Since its formation in 1977 the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra has established itself as one of the foremost chamber orchestras on the international classical music scene today. Renowned for its innovative programming and creativity, the NCO is a project orchestra comprised of Norway’s finest instrumentalists. Through integrating experienced musicians with talented young instrumentalists, the orchestra continuously develops its unique style and innovative culture, thereby greatly contributing to the position Norwegian musicians and ensembles hold internationally.
The artistic directors and guest leaders throughout its history have been Iona Brown, Leif Ove Andsnes, Isabelle van Keulen, Martin Fröst, François Leleux and Steven Isserlis together with our current artistic director Terje Tønnesen who has held this role since the orchestra’s formation.
The orchestra’s international tours to Europe, Asia and North America have received outstanding reviews at many of the world’s prestigious concert halls and festivals. With nearly 40 recordings to date, the NCO has recorded comprehensive chamber orchestra repertoire with distinguished soloists, including Leif Ove Andsnes, Terje Tønnesen, Iona Brown, Truls Mørk, Lars Anders Tomter and Tine Thing Helseth. Highlights include Spellemannpris-winning recordings of Grieg/Nielsen works and Haydn piano concertos with Leif Ove Andsnes.
The orchestra draws on an enviable roster of Norwegian and international soloists and has always been dedicated to presenting contemporary music as part of its concert repertoire.
The NCO currently presents its own concert series at the University aula in Oslo and performs in major concert venues in Norway.

Terje Tønnesen is one of Norway’s most revered musicians, with a career spanning over forty years of music-making as violinist and artistic director. Praised by public and press alike for his virtuosity and artistic individualism, Terje Tønnesen has established a firm place in the Nordic classical music scene through his position as artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and concertmaster of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also artistic director of the Camerata Nordica in Sweden for nearly two decades.
After his critically acclaimed debut in 1972 which Norway’s major newspaper called ‘a dazzling debut without any parallel’, he furthered his studies with Max Rostal in Switzerland. In 1977, he was appointed artistic director to the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, a position he shared with Iona Brown 1981–2002. Tønnesen has also maintained a distinguished career as a soloist by making regular appearances with major orchestras in Scandinavian countries as well as making extensive tours to various parts of Europe, USA, China and Russia.
His recordings as the orchestra’s leader have received considerable critical acclaim and have received awards including the ‘Spellemannpris’. Tønnesen has also done a number of recordings as soloist and chamber musician, and recorded several works commissioned for him.
In recent years Tønnesen has composed music for several theatre productions and devoted his time to arranging various chamber and orchestral works. A passionate advocate for finding new ways of presenting classical music, Tønnesen has collaborated with colleagues from across various art forms, including American stage director Bud Beyer and choreographer Ingun Bjørnsgaard.
Terje Tønnesen has won several international awards and recognition such as the Grieg Prize and Lindeman Prize. In September 2015, Terje Tønnesen was appointed Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He performs on a 1756 Guadagnini lent to him by Dextra Musica, Sparebankstiftelsen.