Swedish Radio Choir

Established in 1925 under the auspices of Sweden’s national broadcaster Sveriges Radio, the Swedish Radio Choir continues as an integral component of that organization, with its 32 professional members based since 1979 at Stockholm’s Berwaldhallen. Although the ensemble has long championed domestic repertoire, it has equally embraced a broad international catalog, cultivating a signature tonal profile through the extended leadership of its early music directors.

Gustaf Malm served as the choir’s inaugural conductor, yielding the podium shortly thereafter to Axel Nylander. Einar Ralf assumed direction in 1939, holding the position until Eric Ericson’s appointment in 1952. Ericson remained at the helm until 1982, during which time he expanded the group’s programming to encompass contemporary scores by Paul Hindemith, Frank Martin, Igor Stravinsky, and Aaron Copland, thereby elevating its international standing while solidifying its distinctive sonic character. As a composer himself, Ericson saw an early document of his work appear on the 1987 Phono Suecia release Swedish Contemporary Vocal Music, Vol. 1: Eric Ericson, featuring the Stockholm Chamber Choir alongside the Swedish Radio Choir.

Subsequent principal conductors have included Anders Öhrwall (1982–1985), Gustaf Sjökvist (1986–1994), and Tõnu Kaljuste (1995–2001), the latter becoming the ensemble’s first non-Swedish leader and subsequently retaining the title of conductor laureate after several recordings. He was followed by Stefan Parkman (2002–2005) and Peter Dijkstra (2007–2018); Kaspars Putniņš assumed the post in 2020. Under these directors the choir has continued to feature Swedish composers such as Karin Rehnqvist, Sven-David Sandström, and Jacob Mühlrad, while also hosting guest conductors, among them Daniel Harding for a Berlin Philharmonic presentation of Mozart’s Mass in C minor, K. 427.

The ensemble’s discography appears on labels noted for their ability to render nuanced vocal timbres, including ECM, Channel Classics, and BIS, the last of which issued a recording of Schumann’s Missa Sacra, Op. 147, in 2023.