Source: redhousepr.com
Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä has held the position of Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic since 2020 and Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris since September 2021. He assumes the title of Chief Conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in September 2027 and in the same season commences as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. An exclusive Decca Classics artist, he has recorded Stravinsky and Debussy Ballets Russes with Orchestre de Paris. With the Oslo Philharmonic he has released the complete Sibelius Symphonies, and Shostakovich Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 and 6.
Following his debut at the 2024 Salzburg Festival, Shostakovich continues as a main composer focus in Mäkelä’s fifth season with the Oslo Philharmonic. Additional programme highlights include Andrew Norman’s Play; Anders Hillborg’s new Piano Concerto MAX with soloist Emanuel Ax, and Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite.
With a focus on French composers and new works, Mäkelä’s fourth season with the Orchestre de Paris pays tribute to the anniversaries of both Ravel and Boulez and features music by Berlioz, Fauré, Debussy, Poulenc and Messiaen. New commissions see the premieres of Thierry Escaich’s Lux Aeterna and Charlotte Bray’s A Sky Too Small.
As Chief Conductor Designate of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, this season Mäkelä leads the world premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize winning composer, Ellen Reid, which they also perform on tour in the United States. He returns to Amsterdam to conduct the traditional Christmas Matinée for the third time, which is followed in May 2025 with performances of Mahler Symphonies Nos. 1 & 8 at the Concertgebouw Mahler Festival.
Guest conducting engagements in the 2024/25 season include performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and Berliner Philharmoniker. Mäkelä also makes his first appearance with the Wiener Philharmoniker in Vienna and on tour. This season he is focus artist at the Vienna Musikverein, and Portrait Artist at the Essen Philharmonie and Brussels Bozar.
As a cellist Mäkelä partners with orchestra members for occasional programmes, and each summer he performs at the Verbier Festival.
