The Bern Symphony Orchestra is extending its collaboration with chief conductor Krzysztof Urbanski for another five seasons until 2032. This decision sets a clear signal for the successful further development of the Bern Symphony Orchestra, as endorsed by the board of trustees of Stages Bern and the chief conductor.
Today, the Bern Symphony Orchestra, under the umbrella of Stages Bern, is pleased to announce the extension of its collaboration with chief conductor Krzysztof Urbanski for another five years. An agreement to this effect was mutually reached. Since the 2024/25 season, Krzysztof Urbanski has been the chief conductor of the Bern Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he is the music director and artistic director of the Warsaw Philharmonic, and since 2022, he has been the first guest conductor of the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana. Urbanski has also guest-conducted with several prestigious orchestras, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Orchestre de Paris, the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Werner Luginbühl, president of the board of trustees at Stages Bern, stated: 'As a conductor, Krzysztof Urbanski is a master of all musical epochs. His passionate commitment to orchestral quality is unmistakable, as he aspires to fully unleash the great potential of the Bern Symphony Orchestra.' Intendant and concert director Florian Scholz also highlights the forward-looking nature of this decision: 'The path that the orchestra has embarked upon with its chief has already yielded wonderful results during the first two seasons. Together, they are embarking on musical flights of fancy, as evidenced by the positive reactions of the Bern audience. Now, long-term continuity of our already fruitful collaboration is ensured.'
Under the leadership of Krzysztof Urbanski, the Bern Symphony Orchestra continues to expand its artistic and thematic range. Well-known works from the late Romantic repertoire meet reinterpretations and new discoveries, as well as exciting works of classical modernity and contemporary pieces. Furthermore, in the upcoming seasons, the orchestra, together with Krzysztof Urbanski, will further expand its international touring activities.
Chief conductor Krzysztof Urbanski expressed his gratitude for the trust shown: 'I am delighted to extend my collaboration as chief conductor of the Bern Symphony Orchestra. Working with the orchestra and the entire team at Stages Bern has been a great privilege and a constant source of artistic inspiration in past seasons. I deeply appreciate the strong and trusting relationship that has developed with our audience. This extension reaffirms my commitment to the artistic vision we have shaped together and will continue to develop over the coming years, allowing us to present an even more diverse and wider repertoire to the audience.'
Under the artistic direction of Krzysztof Urbanski, the positions of 'Artist in Residence' and 'Composer in Residence' have been newly established. Alongside continuous collaboration with top international soloists like Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Sol Gabetta, or Nemanja Radulovic, Krzysztof Urbanski will also continue the monographic cycles in Bern. Following the Beethoven Marathon, where the Canadian exceptional artist Jan Lisiecki performed all five piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven over two consecutive evenings, this season, pianist Anna Vinnitskaya will perform the complete piano concertos of Rachmaninoff.
Krzysztof Urbanski can next be seen at the 7th symphony concert 'Sound Alchemy' of the Bern Symphony Orchestra. The critically acclaimed Spanish violinist María Dueñas returns to Bern for the event. Under chief conductor Urbanski's direction, she will perform Karol Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto. The programme also includes an interpretation of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Symphony No. 3 and Guillaume Connesson's 'Maslenitsa'. Both concerts with the Bern Symphony Orchestra will take place on 19th and 20th February at 19:30 in Casino Bern.