Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

One of Europe's foremost and most versatile orchestras

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is an established and leading force in the music world, with a broad repertoire and innovative collaborations. The orchestra has flourished under the leadership of Daniel Harding, and with Maxim Emelyanychev as its new principal guest conductor, the orchestra looks forward to a continued bright future.

Known as the Radio Symphonics in everyday speech, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra has left a major mark on the music world. Its repertoire includes both the great classical works and exciting new music, and in collaborations with many of the world's leading composers, conductors and soloists there is a constant striving to break new ground. The orchestra has received countless prizes and awards, their tours have been celebrated both in Europe and globally, and they can also boast an extensive and critically acclaimed catalog of records.

The 2024/2025 season marks the end of an era with Daniel Harding as chief conductor and artistic director. During the 2025/2026 season, the orchestra will be visited by a series of fantastic conductors, and Maxim Emelyanychev is welcomed as principal guest conductor. Emelyanychev has worked with the orchestra many times before and expresses his admiration: “The quality of the musicians is incredible. Working with the orchestra is like a conversation about music, a detailed and interesting way of working that is rare in large symphony orchestras.”

Lasting relationships

Two of the orchestra’s former chief conductors, Herbert Blomstedt and Esa-Pekka Salonen, have been honored with the title of honorary conductor. They continue to be regular guests of the orchestra, and Salonen will be Berwaldhallen’s Artist in Residence during the 2025/2026 season, a role he shares with violinist Janine Jansen.

From its home stage in Berwaldhallen, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra reaches the entire country via Swedish Radio P2. Many concerts can also be seen on Berwaldhallen Play, SVT and SVT Play, and internationally the concerts are broadcast through the EBU, which means that the orchestra’s music reaches a global audience. In this way, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is the orchestra of all of Sweden.

Ahead of the orchestra’s guest appearance at the BBC Proms 2014, chief conductor Daniel Harding was asked why they stand out from the crowd: “The orchestra has an incredible humility towards the music and a wonderful sense of musical imagination and inventiveness,” he said. The orchestra has been recognized several times for the musicians' rare feeling and sensitivity. With the orchestra members' distinct interaction and musical inventiveness, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra will continue to be at the musical forefront on the world's great stages.