The first conductor to have the formal title of principal conductor with the orchestra was Herbert Blomstedt, from 1967 to 1977. His recording work with the orchestra included recordings of the orchestral works of Carl Nielsen. Blomstedt now has the title of "æresdirigent" (honorary conductor) with the DNSO. The second principal conductor, after an interregnum of 9 years, was Lamberto Gardelli, from 1986 to 1988. Thomas Dausgaard, who was the DNSO's principal guest conductor from 2001 to 2004, became principal conductor of the DNSO in 2004, the first Danish conductor to hold the title. In October 2009, Dausgaard chose to conclude his principal conductorship of the DNSO at the close of the 2010–2011 season and to take the title of "æresdirigent". Past principal guest conductors of the DRSO, besides Dausgaard, have included Yuri Temirkanov, Michael Schønwandt, and Dmitri Kitaenko.