CHRISTIAN KARLSEN
CONDUCTOR
REVIEWS
“The Swedish maestro’s work was so meticulous that Coll's absence from these Madrid performances was barely noticeable.”
— SCHERZO Magazine.
“…Karlsen kept tight control of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s cat-and-mouse chases and stomping tantrums.” - The Times
Having begun his career as assistant to Esa-Pekka Salonen, Swedish conductor Christian Karlsen has established himself as one of the leading Scandinavian conductors of his generation, recognised for his compelling interpretations of both contemporary and core symphonic repertoire.
Recent highlights include critically acclaimed appearances at Teatro Real, where he stepped in at short notice to conduct the world premiere performances of An Enemy of the People. The Spanish and international press praised his command of the score, orchestral transparency and dramatic pacing, with EL PAÍS highlighting his “remarkable fluidity” and EL IMPARCIAL noting that “under Christian Karlsen’s musical leadership, the score unfolds with clarity of layers and constant attention to balance.”
Karlsen has appeared with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. He has also collaborated with institutions including Deutsche Oper Berlin, Oper Köln and Teatro Real.
He is a frequent collaborator with leading contemporary music ensembles including London Sinfonietta, ASKO|Schönberg Amsterdam, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Norrbotten NEO and BIT20 Ensemble.
Contemporary music forms a central part of Karlsen’s artistic identity, with close collaborations with composers including Sir George Benjamin, Kaija Saariaho, Thomas Adès, Steve Reich and Anders Hillborg..
His acclaimed recording of Symphonies Nos. 1–5 by Galina Ustvolskaya with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for BIS Records was selected as Gramophone Editor’s Choice in December 2025. Gramophone praised the performances as “bearing every sign of careful preparation” and making “the most compelling case for Ustvolskaya as her own woman.”
Karlsen’s operatic and stage work includes productions of Michaels Reise at the Netherlands Opera, Bogoluchie at Bergen Autunnale, Saiyah and Nox Borealis at NorrlandsOperan, as well as FAMA with ASKO|Schönberg in Amsterdam and concert performances of Erwartung in Amsterdam and Vienna.
Recent and upcoming recording projects include a major collaboration with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra devoted to the orchestral works of Anders Hillborg for BIS Records.
Upcoming highlights include the German premiere of Benjamin’s Picture a Day Like This at Oper Köln, alongside performances with the London Sinfonietta at the Holland Festival in the Concertgebouw and at the Aldeburgh Festival, conducting Hans Werner Henze’s Voices.
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Selected Contemporary Collaborations
Thomas Adès
John Adams
Sir George Benjamin
Daniel Bjarnason
Britta Byström
Dai Fujikura
Bára Gísladóttir
Rune Glerup
Hans Werner Henze
Anders Hillborg
Steve Reich
Kaija Saariaho
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Lisa Streich
Andrea Tarrodi
Djuro Živković
