Eivind Aadland is one of Norway’s leading conductors, who brings both historical rigour and fresh insight to his interpretations of Classical and Romantic repertoire. He is well known to audiences across Australia and East Asia, having toured the region extensively, and was Principal Guest Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2013. In 2020 he took up his new position as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, based in Hobart, a city that is quickly becoming a leading cultural destination. Despite the many obstacles presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, he was able to keep this relationship alive with several visits during 2021, and more planned for 2022.
He has fostered loyal relationships with orchestras around the world, including the WDR Symphony Orchestra Köln, with whom he recorded a definitive five-volume set of Grieg’s complete symphonic works, Mozart’s Bassoon and Clarinet Concertos and most recently, Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto with Baiba Skride. Between 2004 and 2010 he was Chief Conductor and Artistic Leader of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, and he works with the National Orchestra of Belgium, Seoul Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic and Iceland Symphony orchestras. Recently he has worked with the Bergen Philharmonic, the Iceland Symphony, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, the Uppsala Chamber Orchestra, and the Turku Philharmonic.
His musical sensitivity and calm leadership also makes him a favourite collaborator for singers and he has conducted productions of Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöteand Die Fledermausfor Den Norske Opera, Oslo.
He is an avid collector of contemporary art, with a collection encompassing the diverse media of painting, photography, video and installation. He brings this curiosity and broad aesthetic sense to his musical work and recently collaborated with artist Alexander Polzin on a multimedia staging of Grieg’s Peer Gynt, which was presented by both Bergen Philharmonic and Barcelona Symphony orchestras.
Aadland is a passionate advocate of Norwegian music and his extensive discography includes works by Norwegian composers such as Irgens-Jensen, Bull, Schjelderup, Groven, Monrad Johansen and Nordheim.
He is committed to the next generation of musicians, devoting time to educational projects such as Dirigentløftet, a mentoring scheme for young Norwegian conductors, and youth orchestras including Iceland Symphony Youth Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic’s Young Philharmonic and Bergen Philharmonic’s BFUng.