Thomas Søndergård

Thomas Søndergård was born in 1969 and is widely regarded as one of the very best young Danish conductors to have emerged in recent years. He was described by one critic as 'a sensation' when he made his debut with the Royal Danish Opera in 2005 conducting Poul Ruders' new opera 'Kafka's Trial': "He handles the complex score with supreme skill… He is one of the best things that has happened to the art of opera for many years." Having begun his musical career as a timpanist with the Royal Danish Orchestra, he has now conducted all the Danish orchestras and ensembles, including Danish National and Royal Danish Orchestra. He has a very varied concert repertoire and has premiered many new works by Scandinavian composers. In February 2005/6 he made his debut with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo and was immediately re-invited for two further projects in summer 2006, where he worked with Roberto Alagna and the Capucon brothers. Other debuts in 2005/6 included the Rundfunksinfonieorchester Saarbrücken and Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. In 2006/7 he made highly successful debuts with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Bamberg Symphony, Swedish Radio and Malmö Symphony Orchestra as well as return visits to Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony and Sønderjylland Symphony. He also conducted 'Barber of Seville' for Royal Danish Opera both in Copenhagen and on tour in Denmark and 'Rite of Spring' and 'Pulchinella' with the Royal Danish Ballet. 2007/8 and beyond includes the opening concert of the Nordic Music Days festival with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, his second visit to Swedish Radio Orchestra, debuts with Northern Sinfonia, Orchestre National de Toulouse, NACO Ottowa, Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, as well as return visits to Danish National Symphony, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, Malmö Symphony, CBSO, Helsingborg Symphony and Malmö Opera, and productions of 'La Boheme' and 'Figaro' for Royal Danish Opera.