The Danish Sinfonietta (Randers Kammerorkester) is built around a permanent core of 14 musicians : five winds and nine strings : supplemented by 20-25 additional musicians as and when required. Its permanent home is the Arts Centre Værket, where around thirty concerts are played every season.
Other activities include numerous concerts at other venues throughout Denmark, and regular performances as opera orchestra for both the Danish National Opera (Den jyske Opera) and Aarhus Sommeropera.
Under its Scottish chief conductor, David Riddell, the orchestra occupies a unique place in Danish cultural life due to its many and varied activities : orchestral concerts with expanded forces, chamber concerts, opera and operetta performances, summer concerts in the many fine castles of the local region, recordings and broadcasts, school concerts, workshops, and teaching.
In recent years the orchestra has toured extensively, visiting UK, China, Estonia, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Syria and Italy.
The Danish Sinfonietta was formed in 1945 by Lavard Friisholm. Under his leadership the orchestra soon became a permanent feature of Danish musical life. Classical concerts in Randers (Denmark's sixth largest city), summer concerts in the numerous local castles, and regular broadcasts for Danish Radio helped build a reputation as one of the country's finest chamber ensembles.
In 1986, The Danish Sinfonietta was designated a "basis ensemble", enlarging the orchestras activities and providing a framework for state funding. Jesper Grove Jørgensen became chief conductor and was succeeded in 1989 by Czech violinist Milan Vitek.
Funded by Randers Town Council and The Danish Arts Foundation.