Over the past four decades, since its founding in 1979, Musica Vitae has established itself as one of Sweden’s leading chamber orchestras, with a core repertoire rooted in the great classical tradition. Known for its artistic excellence and remarkable versatility, the ensemble has collaborated with a host of distinguished conductors and soloists, both Swedish and international, including Janine Jansen, Martin Fröst, Christian Poltéra, Isabelle van Keulen, Terje Tønnesen, Vilde Frang, Mats Rondin, and Anders Kjellberg Nilsson, among many others.
Benjamin Schmid, Thomas Dausgaard, Malin Broman, Fredrik Burstedt, Marc Soustrot, Daniel Blendulf, and Tõnu Kaljuste have played a key role in shaping the orchestra’s recent artistic journey, bringing fresh perspectives and further enriching its identity.
In addition to its core repertoire, Musica Vitae is deeply committed to innovation and contemporary music. The ensemble has premiered and commissioned around 250 new works by both established composers and emerging voices from Sweden’s conservatories. Its open-minded approach embraces not only experimental music, but also jazz, folk traditions, and specially curated programs for young audiences.
Musica Vitae’s extensive discography includes acclaimed recordings on labels such as BIS, Caprice Records, db Productions, and Nosag. Highlights feature works by Bach, Mozart, Stenhammar, Peterson-Berger, Sibelius, and a range of contemporary Nordic composers.
Based in the city of Växjö, in southern Sweden, Musica Vitae is part of the Musik i Syd institution, which operates in the Skåne and Kronoberg regions with the mission of bringing live music to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
True to its name — “the music of life” — Musica Vitae performs wherever music can come to life: in its own concert venue, Nygatan 6, as well as in major concert halls, churches, converted cinemas, or even former railway workshops. These direct and meaningful encounters with the audience remain at the very heart of the orchestra’s artistic mission.
