Conductor SYLVAIN CAMBRELING, “The New Queen of the Violin” ELDBJØRG HEMSING, LNSO

This autumn, Lithuanian audiences can look forward to a special musical event – a unique opportunity to experience two outstanding figures of the music world on the same evening. On October 24, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) will be conducted by renowned French conductor, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra Sylvain Cambreling. The concert’s soloist will be internationally acclaimed Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing. The concert will take place at the LVSO Concert Hall.

With a career spanning more than five decades, Sylvain Cambreling has devoted himself to symphonic music and opera, earning an outstanding reputation as a masterful interpreter of contemporary music and a conductor with a remarkably broad artistic vision. He describes his artistic range as “from Monteverdi to tomorrow.”

Cambreling has conducted at some of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, English National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Paris National Opera and La Monnaie in Brussels. He has also served as Artistic Director and Music Director of the Frankfurt Opera. He is regularly invited to conduct the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna, Berlin, Munich and Oslo Philharmonics, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Cambreling is also a frequent guest at prestigious international festivals, including the Lucerne and Salzburg Festivals, the Vienna Festival, the Ruhrtriennale and the Glyndebourne Festival. Throughout his career, he has continuously expanded his repertoire, conducting works ranging from the classical canon to masterpieces of the 20th and 21st centuries. His interpretations are renowned for their clarity, precision and profound emotional impact, while his concert programmes are distinguished by their thoughtful combination of music from the Baroque era to the present day. Since 2018, Cambreling has served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra.

The concert’s soloist will be one of today’s most distinguished violinists, Norwegian Eldbjørg Hemsing, whose sensitive musicianship, exceptional lyricism and breathtaking virtuosity have earned international acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Klassik-Talente has called her “the new queen of the violin”, while Broadway World wrote of her performances: “When Hemsing plays, it seems that time stands still.”

Hemsing performs in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. She has also performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo. She actively collaborates with leading contemporary composers, including Tan Dun, Anders Hillborg, Alexandre Desplat and other renowned creators.

Hemsing’s artistic work extends beyond the concert hall – her violin can also be heard in films and television series. Her playing features on the soundtrack of the Netflix film Frankenstein, and she has also performed for the soundtrack of the hugely popular series Bridgerton.

An exclusive recording artist with Sony Classical, Eldbjørg Hemsing combines masterpieces of the classical repertoire with contemporary works on her albums, placing particular emphasis on bringing Nordic music to audiences around the world. Her discography includes Grieg Violin Sonatas, Arctic and Colors of Bach. Her latest recording, Hillborg: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Liquid Marble, was made with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Hemsing performs on the legendary 1707 “Rivaz Baron Gutmann” Stradivarius violin. Her performances and recordings are distinguished by artistic vision, depth and originality. The Strad described her playing as “a remarkable combination of purity and a fiery temperament reminiscent of Heifetz”, while Variety wrote: “She produces a pure sound. She doesn’t play romantically – she plays wonderfully.”

Alongside her intensive international concert career, Eldbjørg Hemsing is actively involved in cultural diplomacy initiatives and supports young musicians, representing Norwegian culture on the international stage.