Karl-Heinz Steffens Extends Contract at the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

The German conductor will continue working with the Swedish orchestra until 2027

German conductor Karl-Heinz Steffens was first appointed to the position of Principal Conductor of Sweden's Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in 2020, and had to form a relationship with the orchestra slowly on account of the pandemic.

Steffens and the NSO have several projects in the pipeline. Their first recordings together will soon be released, and this summer, they will embark on the orchestra's first international tour in many years. The tour includes appearances at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Friedberg’s St. Jakob’s Parish Church and Rothenberghalle.

Steffens has recently worked with the Bavarian Radio Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestras, and with the Radio Symphony Orchestras of Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Leipzig, and Stuttgart.

Before becoming a conductor, Steffens was a renowned clarinetist. He held several high-profile orchestral positions, including Principal Clarinet with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra and ultimately with the Berlin Philharmonic.

"During the years that Karl-Heinz Steffens led the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra has a more cohesive and warmer sound," said Henrik Marmén, the NSO's Artistic Director. "But above all, Karl-Heinz has succeeded in making all musicians feel seen and important. It gives motivation and commitment to everyone, from the first to the last desk, which can be both seen and heard at the concerts."

"[Myself and the orchestra have] grown together both musically and artistically," Steffens said. "I feel that the orchestra has strongly developed in all aspects and we will now continue to work together to achieve the highest standard of performance and musical expression."