MARIA EKLUND CONDUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
The Russian Swedish conductor Maria Eklund made her debut at the Bolshoi theatre as the first woman ever. This was followed by an invitation to the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra of Russia, where she was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in 2006-2008. She has since then been a regular guest to all major Russian orchestras.
Among highlights in 2017 are concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm, and Gothenburg Opera as well as participation in a popular TV program Kontrapunkt-Kulturfrågan in Sweden.
Among recent highlights can be mentioned the debut with St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Russia, Nordic Chamber Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the latter in Sweden. Further an invitation back to the Strauss Orchestra and an engagement at Folkoperan with La Traviata, both in Sweden.
Some other highlights in Maria’s career are three tours in China: the first with the China National Opera House and leading Chinese and Swedish soloists and the second with the Symphony Orchestra of Russia to different cities in China. She also led a special project with young talented female soloists from Sweden, Russia, Germany, Israel, Hungary and Japan performing a new piece, Open Ground, written by Swedish composer Victoria Borisova-Ollas and based on a novel of Salman Rushdie.
Maria Eklund made her first performance in Arena di Verona in Italy in 2006 and was immediately invited back 2007 to lead the orchestra’s and choruses first tour to Moscow with soloists like Paata Burchuladze, Mariella Devia and Vincenzo La Scola.
In Sweden she has guested Östgöta Wind Orchestra and Royal Swedish Marine Orchestra. She has also performed several times with The Swedish Wind Orchestra, to be mentioned is a tour St. Petersburg where they were invited by Valery Gergiev to perform at the legendary Mariinsky Theatre with the trumpet soloist Sergei Nakariakov. She has also guested Norrlandsoperan, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Västerås Sinfonietta, Sweden Strauss Orchestra, Nordic Chamber Orchestra.
In 2012 Maria founded a chamber orchestra called Stockholm’s Soloists and together with them she has performed tours and concerts all over Sweden, to be mentioned is a charity concert for Syrian children at the Konserthuset Stockholm together with the composer and pianist Malek Jandali.
Maria Eklund is educated at the Academy of Music in Moscow, The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and at the postgraduate level at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory for Gennady Rozhdestvensky as professor.
