Edward Gardner
Honorary Conductor
Edward Gardner is the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra's Honorary Conductor, following his tenure as Chief Conductor from 2015 to 2024.
Edward Gardner took over the baton from Andrew Litton at the Bergen Philharmonic's 250 Years Anniversary Concert in October 2015. In his nine years as Chief Conductor he devoted himself to the orchestra and has been the prime force in further developing the artistic quality of the orchestra.
Every time we say goodbye – Edward Gardner talks to John Allison
He has taken the orchestra on eleven international tours with a total of 47 concerts in venues/festivals like BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Royal Festival Hall London, Konzerthaus Berlin, Alte Oper Frankfurt and Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Edward Gardner and the Orchestra have released a series of recordings: orchestral works by Janáček, including a Grammy-nominated recording of his Glagolitic Mass, Schönberg’s Gurre-Lieder, songs by Sibelius, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Incidental music to Peer Gynt, featuring Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Ann-Helen Moen and Lise Davidsen, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Rhapsodies with James Ehnes, Bartóks Bluebeard’s Castle, Brahms symphonies Nos 1 and 3, Schoenberg’s Erwartung and Pelleas und Melisande, Britten’s Peter Grimes with Stuart Skelton and Erin Wall, songs by Britten and Canteloube with soprano Mari Eriksmoen, a cd with saxophonist Marius Neset, The Tempest by Arne Nordheim and a cd with Carl Nielsen’s Violin Concerto (James Ehnes) and Symphony No. 4.
The recording of Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes was awarded Gramophone Recording of the Year Award and Opera Recording of the Year Award.