Niklas Willén

Niklas Willén (* 1961) is a Swedish conductor.

He studied with Jorma Panula and Kjell Ingebretsen at the Royal College of Music Stockholm, where he also took composition lessons Ingvar Karkhoff and Daniel Börtz. His debut took place in 1988.

From 1993 to 1997 he was chief conductor of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra in Sweden, 2002-2006 Principal Conductor of the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in Denmark. From 2009-2011, was Niklas Willén music director at the National Theatre Rostock and at the same time chief conductor of the North German Philharmonic in Rostock. On 1 September 2010 he assumed the position of Chief Conductor of the WDR Radio Orchestra Cologne for three years.

Niklas Willén works regularly with the major orchestras Skandivaniens and guest appearances with other European orchestras. As an opera conductor, he could make himself a name. His interest in contemporary music is evidenced by numerous world premieres, as Peter Bengtsons opera The Maiden and the Royal Opera. Numerous productions are documented on CD, among others at BIS, and NAXOS.