THE CHILL OF IT ALL
It’s often said that if you find a job you love you’ll never work a day in your life. And it’s a saying that rings true for conductor Eivind Aadland, who, after 50 years of making music, still gets chills when he hears a magical composition.
“When I listen to music I just hear something … I still I get goosebumps or I get tears in my eyes and I cannot explain why,” the 62-year-old admits. “It’s fantastic, to have a job like that, I think.’’
Aadland is based in Norway and is one of the country’s most respected conductors, but he has visited Tasmania about 10 times in the past decade as a guest conductor of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. And he’ll soon spend more time here as he steps into a three-year contract as the TSO’s new chief conductor and artistic director.
Aadland will be responsible for the development, leadership and artistic profile of the orchestra as well as long-term strategic planning. He will also engage guest artists and conductors, creating the orchestra’s annual performance season which includes more than 30 concerts statewide.
Aadland doesn’t take the reins until the new year, but he is visiting the state to conduct the TSO (and Spanish piano soloist Javier Perianes) in Nordic Spirit at Federation Concert Hall on Friday, which features Sibelius’s Symphony No 5, Grenfell’s Flinders and Trim and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3.
Aadland says Norway is currently “quite bright and brilliant” as there’s only a couple of hours of darkness each night.
“It’s absolutely wonderful at this time of year,’’ he says. He is hoping some of that northern beauty will shine through in Nordic Spirit, with the fifth symphony of composer Jean Sibelius — who hails from Finland — described as a radiant, enthralling, multi-hued work of art.
Aadland began playing violin at age nine, which he says was “actually a bit late for a violinist”. But that didn’t slow his progress. He has worked extensively with European orchestras, including as chief conductor and artistic leader of Norway’s Trondheim Symphony Orchestra for seven seasons. He was also principal guest conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and boasts a prolific discography.
In his teens Aadland was playing solo, teaching and playing in orchestras. In his 20s, he added conducting to the mix. By his 30s, he realised he needed to make a choice.
“You have to do one thing, and do it well,’’ he says.
He no longer plays violin but is passionate about conducting and is eager to spend more time in Tasmania.
“As a guest conductor I have always enjoyed making music with the excellent musicians of the TSO. I look forward to our future collaboration, which I hope will produce performances that will excite and inspire our audience.’’
Aadland will spend at least 10 weeks a year in Hobart while continuing his concert work in Europe at other times.
One thing he isn’t afraid of is Tasmania’s winter, as winter temperatures in Norway can plummet to -20C. “I’m used to really cold winters so that’s not a problem,’’ he laughs.
Eivind Aadland conducts the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Nordic Spirit at Federation Concert Hall on Friday (August 9) at 7.30pm. Tickets from $35. tso.com.au