The Antonelli Orchestra

Behind the screen work of Denmark's television schedule stands The Antonelli Orchestra, a band whose identity was shaped by broadcast rather than by the club circuit. Its line-up of roughly eight to ten musicians is led from the drums by Claes Antonsen, who also owns the group, and it draws on brass, guitars, percussion and a changing cast of vocalists. The orchestra's story starts earlier than its television work, first appearing in 1999 as The Claudio Antonielli Orchestra.

Its television chapter began in 2005, when it was formed as the house orchestra for Vild med dans on TV 2, a post it held until 2023. The band also appeared on other TV 2 programmes, including Toppen af Poppen and Så det synger. Its 1999 incarnation was assembled for Master Fatman's Las Campas concerts at Base Camp on Holmen in Copenhagen, with Claes Antonsen, Lars Danielsson, Jens Runge and Søren Runge. Today's roster adds vocalists Stine Hjelm, Mark Linn and Daniel, trumpeters Ketil Duckert and Ari Bragi Kárason, and percussionist Eliel Lazo.