The development began in 1952 when Eric Ericson became principal conductor of the choir. Sweden had a number of composers with new ideas who found a vehicle for their visions in the Swedish Radio Choir.

Anders Öhrwall took over as principal conductor in the 1980s, introducing a new repertoire in which the focus was on baroque music. The choir also started working with Riccardo Muti in the 1980s, a collaboration that resulted in a couple of acclaimed recordings and several concerts.

During Gustaf Sjökvist's tenure, the work with new music continued. The choir received more commitments abroad, establishing extensive collaborations in particular with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Claudio Abbado.

When the Estonian conductor Tõnu Kaljuste became the first non-Swedish principal conductor, the repertoire extended towards the east. The choir now encountered old, Russian composers and a repertoire of new music by composers such as Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke and Krzysztof Penderecki.

Stefan Parkman's was the the choir's principal conductor for three seasons. He continued to cultivate and maintained the long tradition of the Swedish Radio Choir. As the choir now opens its 80th concert season, it has managed not just to keep but to further establish its position as a world-leading ensemble.

Now the Swedish Radio Choir continues with two guest conductors: Tõnu Kaljuste and Peter Dijkstra.

For more information, please contact: Chorus Personnel Manager, Pernilla Wilhelmsdotter +46-(0)8-784 5155, pernilla.wilhelmsdotter@sr.se or Marketing and Information Director, Karin Adolfsson-Goldman +46-(0)8-784 5112, karin.adolfsson-goldman@sr.se