Northern Sinfonia is one of Europe's foremost chamber orchestras. With its Music Director Thomas Zehetmair Northern Sinfonia ranges through the Western Classical Music repertoire from early baroque through the classical and romantic periods, to commissioned new work. The orchestra was founded in 1958 and as it approaches its fiftieth anniversary year is embarking on a brand new era in its development, becoming, from the winter of 2004/05, the orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, central to the extensive classical music programme in its new multi-million pound Norman Foster home. The flexibility of this world-class orchestra extends to self-directed performances and chamber music as well as concerts at different times of day and in different venues from tiny Northumberland churches to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. With The Sage Gateshead as its home Northern Sinfonia will continue to travel in order to serve the whole of the North of England and further afield throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. Apart from its Music Director, Thomas Zehetmair, Northern Sinfonia works with distinguished visiting musicians including Franz Bruggen, Imogen Cooper, Thierry Fischer, Lesley Garrett, Evelyn Glennie, Richard Hickox, Heinz Holliger, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Roger Norrington and Heinrich Schiff. Recordings and broadcasts form an integral part of the orchestra's work. Northern Sinfonia has won Classic CD awards for Best Concerto Recording and Living Composer. The orchestra's wide-ranging community
September 2004
