Northern Sinfonia

Orchestra of The Sage Gatehead

Northern Sinfonia, orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, holds an international reputation for the range and depth of its repertoire which spans 300 years and includes commissioned new work. Northern Sinfonia’s Music Director, Thomas Zehetmair, says he approaches each work “as if the ink is still wet on the score”, giving performances extraordinary freshness.

The orchestra performs in its own spectacular Norman Foster-designed home for music, The Sage Gateshead, which celebrated its 5th Birthday in December 2009. Northern Sinfonia travels widely too with appearances at other leading venues and festivals throughout the world including the Berlin Philharmonie, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Musikverein in Vienna, the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival and the Aldeburgh Festival. Northern Sinfonia’s 50th Anniversary Season in 2008/09 saw tours to the Far East including a residency at the Hong Kong Festival.

Northern Sinfonia is a fresh thinking, versatile orchestra with projects including work with the Pet Shop Boys, and touring with striking harpist and singer, Joanna Newsom.

Northern Sinfonia works with many broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4, and is proud to be Classic FM’s orchestra in the North East; working in partnership with the UK’s biggest commercial radio station, it presents exclusive broadcasts and live performances at The Sage Gateshead and for Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

Recordings include the critically acclaimed Brahms and Schumann CD (chosen by BBC Music Magazine as Disc of the Month under the heading ‘Zehetmair’s daring success’), two CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos with Imogen Cooper (five stars in Classic FM magazine and The Sunday Telegraph), and a Sibelius and Stravinsky CD with Music Director, Thomas Zehetmair.

Find out more at www.thesagegateshead.org.