conductor, artistic partner

Klaus Mäkelä

Klaus Mäkelä has held the position of chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2020 and music director of Orchestre de Paris since 2021. As artistic partner to the Concertgebouw Orchestra since 2022 he will assume the title of chief conductor in 2027.  

An exclusive Decca Classics Artist, he has recorded the complete Sibelius Symphony cycle with the Oslo Philharmonic and Stravinsky’s Firebird and The Rite of Spring with Orchestre de Paris. 

In September 2020, his outstanding debut prompted the Concertgebouw Orchestra to invite him back twice in the same season, and twice in the 2021-22 season. As artistic partner, Mäkelä closely collaborates with the orchestra in six programmes during the 2023-24 season, including the Christimas Matinee concert, the festive Annual Gala, and performances of Mahler’s Symphony No.3 and Bruckner’s Symphony No.5. 

Mäkelä’s 2023/24 season with the Oslo Philharmonic includes seventeen concerts at home in Norway, a three weeks’ tour of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and guest performances in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris and Vienna.  

With Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä performed Stravinsky’s Ballet Russes at the Festival of Aix-en-Provence in a special collaboration with three film makers. Ballet Russes continues as a main focus of Mäkelä’s third season in Paris, including performances and a recording of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, and Debussy’s Jeux and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.  

Klaus Mäkelä has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

As a cellist Mäkelä partners with members of the Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris and Concertgebouw Orchestra for occasional programmes and each summer performs at the Verbier Festival in chamber music concerts. 

Mäkelä studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula and cello with Marko Ylönen, Timo Hanhinen and Hannu Kiiski. 

Klaus Mäkelä - image: Marco Borggreve

Klaus Mäkelä has held the position of chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2020 and music director of Orchestre de Paris since 2021. As artistic partner to the Concertgebouw Orchestra since 2022 he will assume the title of chief conductor in 2027.  

An exclusive Decca Classics Artist, he has recorded the complete Sibelius Symphony cycle with the Oslo Philharmonic and Stravinsky’s Firebird and The Rite of Spring with Orchestre de Paris. 

In September 2020, his outstanding debut prompted the Concertgebouw Orchestra to invite him back twice in the same season, and twice in the 2021-22 season. As artistic partner, Mäkelä closely collaborates with the orchestra in six programmes during the 2023-24 season, including the Christimas Matinee concert, the festive Annual Gala, and performances of Mahler’s Symphony No.3 and Bruckner’s Symphony No.5. 

Mäkelä’s 2023/24 season with the Oslo Philharmonic includes seventeen concerts at home in Norway, a three weeks’ tour of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and guest performances in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris and Vienna.  

With Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä performed Stravinsky’s Ballet Russes at the Festival of Aix-en-Provence in a special collaboration with three film makers. Ballet Russes continues as a main focus of Mäkelä’s third season in Paris, including performances and a recording of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, and Debussy’s Jeux and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.  

Klaus Mäkelä has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

As a cellist Mäkelä partners with members of the Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris and Concertgebouw Orchestra for occasional programmes and each summer performs at the Verbier Festival in chamber music concerts. 

Mäkelä studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula and cello with Marko Ylönen, Timo Hanhinen and Hannu Kiiski. 

Klaus Mäkelä has held the position of chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2020 and music director of Orchestre de Paris since 2021. As artistic partner to the Concertgebouw Orchestra since 2022 he will assume the title of chief conductor in 2027.  

An exclusive Decca Classics Artist, he has recorded the complete Sibelius Symphony cycle with the Oslo Philharmonic and Stravinsky’s Firebird and The Rite of Spring with Orchestre de Paris. 

In September 2020, his outstanding debut prompted the Concertgebouw Orchestra to invite him back twice in the same season, and twice in the 2021-22 season. As artistic partner, Mäkelä closely collaborates with the orchestra in six programmes during the 2023-24 season, including the Christimas Matinee concert, the festive Annual Gala, and performances of Mahler’s Symphony No.3 and Bruckner’s Symphony No.5. 

Mäkelä’s 2023/24 season with the Oslo Philharmonic includes seventeen concerts at home in Norway, a three weeks’ tour of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and guest performances in Hamburg, Amsterdam, Paris and Vienna.  

With Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä performed Stravinsky’s Ballet Russes at the Festival of Aix-en-Provence in a special collaboration with three film makers. Ballet Russes continues as a main focus of Mäkelä’s third season in Paris, including performances and a recording of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, and Debussy’s Jeux and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.  

Klaus Mäkelä has appeared as a guest conductor with orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

As a cellist Mäkelä partners with members of the Oslo Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris and Concertgebouw Orchestra for occasional programmes and each summer performs at the Verbier Festival in chamber music concerts. 

Mäkelä studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula and cello with Marko Ylönen, Timo Hanhinen and Hannu Kiiski. 

  • Klaus Mäkelä - image: Marco Borggreve
    Klaus Mäkelä - image: Marco Borggreve
  • Klaus Mäkelä principal cellist Gregor Horsch. image: Milagro Elstak
    Klaus Mäkelä principal cellist Gregor Horsch. image: Milagro Elstak
  • Klaus Mäkelä and Sol Gabetta during a public rehearsal image: Milagro Elstak
    Klaus Mäkelä and Sol Gabetta during a public rehearsal image: Milagro Elstak
  • Klaus Mäkelä conducts the the world premiere of Alexander Raskatov's Oboe Concerto with principal oboe Alexei Ogrintchouk as soloist. image: Eduardus Lee
    Klaus Mäkelä conducts the the world premiere of Alexander Raskatov's Oboe Concerto with principal oboe Alexei Ogrintchouk as soloist. image: Eduardus Lee
  • Klaus Mäkelä woth composer Alexander Raskatov. image: Eduardus Lee
    Klaus Mäkelä woth composer Alexander Raskatov. image: Eduardus Lee
  • Klaus Mäkelä on the stairs of the Concertgebouw. image: Milagro Elstak
    Klaus Mäkelä on the stairs of the Concertgebouw. image: Milagro Elstak
  • Klaus Mäkelä is conducting the Concertgebouworkest - image: Milagro Elstak
    Klaus Mäkelä is conducting the Concertgebouworkest - image: Milagro Elstak

Concerts