The Swedish Radio Choir appoints two Conductor Laureates

Peter Dijkstra and Tõnu Kaljuste have each been appointed Conductor Laureate of the Swedish Radio Choir as of the beginning of this season. Both of them have been Chief Conductors of the Choir, a world famous ensemble and institution in Swedish music life, formed in the 1920s at the same time as its parent organization, Sveriges Radio.

Peter Dijkstra and Tõnu Kaljuste, newly appointed Conductor Laureates for the Radio Choir. Photo: Arne Hyckenberg & Mikael Grönberg / SR

Peter Dijkstra was the Swedish Radio Choir's Chief Conductor from 2007 to 2018 and Tõnu Kaljuste held the same position from 1995 to 2001.  Both have a very strong relationship with the Choir and they continue to work together on a regular basis;  Peter Dijkstra will direct the Radio Choir’s tour to Japan later this month and Tõnu Kaljuste directs their tour to Germany in Spring 2020. 

Peter Dijkstra’s appointment will be announced formally at a concert on November 16 in St. Matthew Church in Stockholm during the Radio Choir’s concert.

-    Several of my dream recordings have become reality thanks to this choir's 'sound' and great professionalism. I remember our tours around the world with great joy, that is when we really got to know each other. The Swedish Radio Choir has a very special status in the world and it is a great honour for me to given the title Conductor Laureate, says Tõnu Kaljuste.

-    Recieving the title of Conductor Laureate is fantastic and it touches me!  Working with the Swedish Radio Choir during my years as Chief Conductor has been an extremely important part of my working life and I can look back on many fantastic experiences with the Choir, both in Sweden and abroad. The appointment feels like a great appreciation from the Choir and Sveriges Radio and gives a nice feeling for our continued journey together, says Peter Dijkstra.

-    When Tõnu Kaljuste came to the Swedish Radio Choir, it was with something completely new. Tõnu gave the Choir more and deeper dimensions; another sound world, another expression. The eleven years with Peter Dijkstra have given the Choir stability at a very high level. I've probably never worked with such a knowledgeable and well prepared conductor as Peter Dijkstra, says Johan Pejler, President of the Swedish Radio Choir.

The Swedish Radio Choir is based in the Swedish Radio Concert Hall, Berwaldhallen in Stockholm. On November 16 at 3 pm, they will perform a concert “Russian voices” in St. Matthew Church in Stockholm together with the Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk, led by Peter Dijkstra. Later this month, the Radio Choir will tour Japan for 10 days with concerts in the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Sendai, among other places.

For more information contact

Karl Thorson
Press & PR Manager
Berwaldhallen | Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester | Radiokören
karl.thorson@sverigesradio.se
+46-8-784 18 30 | +46-70-431 18 93

Sveriges Radios konserthus Berwaldhallen
SE-105 10 Stockholm, Sweden
Besök/Visiting address Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 3
berwaldhallen.se