The choir consists of 32 professional singers. Together they form the Swedish Radio Choir, an instrument with a range that extends from the sweetest a cappella sounds to the enormous power and elasticity of an oratorio. Each individual form of expression is offered a space in the collective, contributing to the unique sound of the choir. The repertoire is rich with a wide variety of genres and a generous mix of early and contemporary music, and practically everything in-between. Apart from their concerts with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Berwaldhallen and their own series of concerts, they are constantly being engaged by orchestra conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Valery Gergiev and Daniel Harding to give concerts, tour and record.
The Swedish Radio Choir, which is one of the world’s most well-known and respected a cappella ensembles, was formed in 1925. But it was 27 years later (1952), with the newly appointed choirmaster, Eric Ericson, that the choir began to develop into the flexible instrument that it has become today. And by bringing fresh palettes and proficiencies, each new choirmaster after Ericson has also had a unique influence on the choir. Peter Dijkstra, the young Dutchman who received the Eric Ericson Award in 2003, has been the Principal Conductor of the choir since the fall of 2007. He mainly focuses on modern a cappella repertoire and further establishing the choir’s position as a world-leading ensemble. This year’s programme will include tours to USA, Russia, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland with maestro Claudio Abbado, Daniel Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra among others.
