The music director of Norrlandsoperan Eduardo Strausser is extending his contract with the Swedish concert and opera house through the 2028/29 season. This was announced at the season finale of the Thursday Concerts with the NorrlandsoperanSymphony Orchestra.

In the fall of 2024 Eduardo Strausser took on the role of musical director for the Norrlandsoperans Symphony Orchestra. It has now been announced that the Brazilian conductor will extend his contract and continue to oversee the programming for a further two years.

“We are incredibly pleased to continue our collaboration with Eduardo Strausser. He brings energy, knowledge, curiosity, and a genuine passion for music that inspires both the orchestra and the audience,” says Helle Solberg, CEO of Norrlandsoperan.” 

Eduardo Strausser grew up in São Paulo, resides in Berlin and continues his global career alongside his work in Umea. He is frequently engaged by concert halls and opera houses in Europe, South America, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and has conducted both newly commissioned operas and core repertoire from the traditional cannon. Eduardo’s work on Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at Norrlandsoperan was celebrated by critics and audience alike, Expressen’s opera critic Gunilla Brodrej calling the performance ​“one of the greatest musical experiences I’ve had of this marvellous music”. In his role as program director, he has developed the artistic profile of the Symphony Orchestra’s popular Thursday Concert series.

”My recent years at Norrlandsoperan have been marked by a spirit of curiosity, ambition, and trust. Together with the orchestra, we have explored a wide range of repertoire while searching for a very distinctive artistic identity. The possibility to extend my role as Music Director for another two years and to continue on this musical journey makes me very happy.” 

As part of the Norrlandsoperan program development, Eduardo has regularly hosted Open Rehearsals, where the audience gets a glimpse into the creative process as a piece of music is rehearsed and refined in preparation for the concert. Eduardo’s Open rehearsals have become a popular feature of the Norrlandsoperan concert series.

”The open rehearsals have become one of the most rewarding parts of my work at the Norrlandsoperan. I strongly believe that inviting the audience into our creative process creates a very deep connection between the orchestra and the community we serve.”

The year 2027 marks the 200^th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, and throughout the year, the composer will be celebrated worldwide with festivals and concert series. The Beethoven Year with the Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra gets an early start on August 27 with a program featuring Beethoven and Shostakovich, conducted by Eduardo Strausser.

“The 2026 – 2027 season will look ahead to Beethoven’s 200^th anniversary in 2027, we have Beethoven as the backbone of the season while placing his music in dialogue with works from different periods and perspectives. It is a season shaped by both tradition and discovery, consistent with the vision that we have been developing over the past couple of years, and I am excited to share this with our audience throughout the region.”