The opportunity to carry out this project originated from the collaboration between conductor Maria Badstue and the SOI. Maria Badstue, who conducts symphony orchestras and opera productions throughout Scandinavia, is “considered as one of the best young Danish conductors of today” (Berlingske Media). Born in India but adopted as an infant and raised in Denmark, she has been a guest conductor with the SOI since 2017.

Twenty professional musicians from the very best symphony orchestras in Denmark and the Symphony Orchestra of India will be performing the concerts, presenting two various programmes with both Mozart, Beethoven and the Carl Nielsen. Emma Steele, the young newly appointed concertmaster of the world’s oldest orchestra, The Royal Danish Orchestra, will join the orchestra both as a soloist and as concertmaster throughout the week, while concert pianist and associate professor at the Danish National Academy of Music, Christina Bjørkøe, will participate both as a soloist and by giving masterclasses at the NCPA.

The project is carried out in cooperation with The Danish Cultural Institute in New Delhi, and meets support from both the Indian embassy and the Danish ministry of Culture. This journey of 20 Danish musicians to India is made possible by a generous donation from the Holck-Larsen foundation, Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Travel period: 14–22 March 2020

Concerts at the NCPA: 19 and 20 March 2020