Founded in 1988 as the first independent, professional orchestra performing on period instruments in Scandinavia.
The Orchestra has collaborated widely with a number of conductors - most notably the Norwegian harpsichordist Ketil Haugsand and the British conductor Andrew Parrott. In 2005 the Norwegian conductor Rolf Gupta was announced as artistic leader.
The NBO has appeared at a number of prestigious venues and festivals, including Salle Pleyel in Paris, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Ansbacher Bachwoche, Festival Internacional de Musica de Coimbra, Festival International de Musique Baroque & Classique du Beaune, Luzerner Musikfest-Wochen, Europäischen Musikfest Stuttgart, Tage Alte Musik Regensburg, Schleswig Holstein Festival and Musikfest Bremen as well as a number of Norwegian festivals.
