Forlenger til sommeren 2029

Following his first season in the role, Julian Rachlin, chief conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra (KSO), has extended his contract with the orchestra. The star conductor will now remain in Kristiansand through the summer of 2029. “This is fantastic news for us,” says KSO Director Pål Svendsberget.

“I can hardly imagine a better start to the season,” says Svendsberget, continuing:

– I’m absolutely thrilled that Julian wants to stay here for three more seasons. This is fantastic news for us. We all have high hopes for what we can achieve together in the run-up to the summer of 2029.

Sold out

The star conductor, who was originally scheduled to remain with the KSO until the summer of 2026, begins his second season as the orchestra’s chief conductor tonight. Svendsberget believes the news of the contract extension will be an added bonus at what looks to be a sold-out concert at Konsertsalen Kilden Konsertsalen .

– I am absolutely convinced that this will be very well received by our audience, and I have been looking forward to sharing this with the world for a long time.

An amazing journey

The protagonist himself is not shy about using superlatives when explaining why he wants three more seasons with the KSO at a stage in his career when he is becoming an increasingly sought-after conductor around the world.

“The Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic orchestra, and I’ve felt very welcome ever since our first concert together in 2018. Over the years, our relationship has grown stronger and stronger, and I believe the orchestra’s ambitions and my own for the coming years are a good fit. Our ambitions are high, and I think we’re in for a fantastic journey,” he says.

An important part

Julian Rachlin has already become a huge favorite with audiences in Kristiansand. The season-opening concert is on track to sell out. The public’s interest is also a factor in his decision to extend his stay in Kristiansand:

“Many people have worked very hard with the orchestra over a long period of time, and it’s very motivating to see the audience’s growing interest. Going forward, we’ll focus on building even stronger ties and becoming an even more important part of the lives of more and more people in the region,” he says.