The Gävle Symphony Orchestra (Swedish: Gävle symfoniorkester) is a symphony orchestra based in Gävle, Sweden. The orchestra is resident at the Gävle Konserthus (Gävle Concert Hall).
Founded in 1912, giving its first concert on 16 January that year,[1] the orchestra initially gave its concerts in the Gävle theatre and Mariners' Church. In 1998, a purpose-built concert hall was constructed overlooking the Gavleån.
Beginning on 1 July 2012, Jaime Martín became the orchestra's artistic adviser, and on 1 July 2013, he took the post of principal conductor. His initial contract was for 4 years.[2] In September 2015, the orchestra extended his contract through 2020.[3] Martín had been scheduled to conclude his tenure as principal conductor of the orchestra at the close of the 2020-2021 season. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the orchestra and Martín extended the scheduled date of the conclusion of his tenure by one year, into 2022.[4] Martín stood down as principal conductor at the close of the 2021-2022 season.
In December 2021, Christian Reif first guest-conducted the orchestra. In April 2023, the orchestra announced the appointment of Reif as its chief conductor, effective with the 2023-2024 season, with an initial contract of three seasons.[5]
Among its discography are recordings of Tre Dalmålningar by Oskar Lindberg, Xaver Scharwenka's Symphony in C minor, symphonic poems by Franz Berwald; orchestral works by Gustaf Bengtsson, Oscar Byström's Symphony in D minor, Jacob Adolf Hägg's Nordic Symphony; orchestral music by Armas Järnefelt, Otto Olsson's Symphony in G minor, Kurt Atterberg's violin and piano concertos; a concert live from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw with works by Grieg, Svendsen and Shostakovich with Carlos Spierer, Rosa Arnold, Enrica Ciccarelli, and the piano concerto of Sven-David Sandström.
This article contains some material adapted from the equivalent in Swedish