Andris Nelsons – conductor at this year’s Nobel Prize Concert

One of the world’s most sought-after young conductors, Andris Nelsons, is to conduct the 2014 Nobel Prize concert. He will be joined by soloists Kristine Opolais (soprano) and Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet).The concert – presented by Nobel Media in association with the Stockholm Concert Hall and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – will be held on 8 December as part of the official Nobel Week programme of activities in Stockholm.

Andris Nelsons was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1978. In 2003 he became Music Director of the Latvian National Opera. He has since been Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and was recently appointed Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Kristine Opolais, another young rising star from Latvia, first performed in 2006 at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin. She has sung at numerous prestigious venues, including La Scala in Milano, the Wiener Staatsoper and the Royal Opera House in London. She debuted at New York’s Metropolitan Opera earlier this year.

Swedish trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger is often lauded as “the best trumpeter in the world” and possesses a unique range, from the classical masterworks to modern pieces.

This year’s programme comprises of the letter scene from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Rolf Martinsson’s trumpet concerto “Bridge” and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 7.

The Nobel Prize Concert is held to honour the current year’s Nobel Laureates, who attend with their respective parties. Also present are members of the Swedish Royal Family and guests of the Nobel Foundation. The 2014 Nobel Prize Concert is the tenth in succession.

Tickets will go on general sale on 20 May via www.konserthuset.se.

The Nobel Prize Concert is sponsored by DNB.

For press release in Swedish, please see the attached PDF document.