Gävle Symphony Orchestra

Sweden's Gavle Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1912, giving its first concert on January 16 of that year with a performance of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, by Gösta Björk, the orchestra's new concertmaster. The orchestra's first conductor was Ruben Liljefors, younger brother of painter Bruno Liljefors. The Gavle Symphony Orchestra has championed unusual Swedish works since its founding, and the orchestra has helped launch the careers of several prominent conductors. As its popularity increased, it outgrew the original home venue, Gävle Theatre, thus finally having its own hall, the Gävle Konserthus, in 1998 after years of planning and debate. The hall, situated on the Gävle River, is an impressive structure for a city of some 100,000 people. The orchestra has attracted top-notch guest soloists, including, in 1965, a 24-year-old Martha Argerich; guest conductors who stopped in Gävle on their way to international careers were Esa-Pekka Salonen, Eri Klas, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Among the Gavle Symphony's most successful conductors was Miedel, who made the group's first LP records and expanded its reach. The orchestra now tours not only its native central Sweden but also other parts of the country and venues abroad. Cheif Conductor for the Gavle Symphony is Christian Reif.