Oslo Sinfonietta

Oslo Sinfonietta, Norway’s oldest running contemporary ensemble, was founded by the Norwegian composer Asbjørn Schaathun in 1986. The ensemble’s artistic director since 1993 has been Christian Eggen, who also serves as principal conductor. Oslo Sinfonietta consists of leading freelance musicians and members of some of Norway’s most prominent orchestras, including the Oslo Philharmonic, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Norwegian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. This ensures the ensemble possesses the quality and flexibility required for a contemporary repertoire. In 1999, Oslo Sinfonietta was awarded the prestigious Spellemannspris, Norway’s equivalent of a GRAMMY, for Boyl with music by Rolf Wallin. The ensemble performs regularly at Norwegian and international festivals and was among the co-founders when the Ultima Festival was established in 1990. Abroad, it has visited festivals and concert halls such as Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam, Casa da Música in Porto, Festival Présences in Paris, the Venice Biennale, Milano Musica, Music Biennale Zagreb, and the ECLAT Festival.