With over 100 concerts a year and creative programming, it’s an orchestra constantly evolving. The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has probably never been better.
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is today among the most active streaming players worldwide. With its digital platform Konserthuset Play, the orchestra offers a comprehensive library of filmed performances which are available for free streaming anywhere in the world.
In the following sections, you can read more about the orchestra's history since 1902 – its historic chief conductors, guests and tours – and get acquainted with the members of the orchestra of today.
French music, French atmospheres and a Spanish dance for orchestra.
Thursday 4 April 2024 18.00 ●Watch for free on Konserthuset Play ●Watch for free on Konserthuset PlayAnton Holmer. Photo: Elliott Elliott
Victor Julien-Laferrière. Photo: Jean-Baptiste-Millot
Members from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Yanan Li
French music, French atmospheres and a Spanish dance for orchestra.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planWatch the concert at Konserthuset Play.
Not only is this programme infused with France and French music – Swedish conductor Anton Holmer also has a link to the French music scene: during 2021–23, he was been assistant conductor with the Orchestre National de Lyon. He debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at a summer concert in 2022 and was promptly invited to return.
Debussy’s sensual depiction of the awakening of a faun is inscribed for eternity in music history. This music is inspired by a poem by Mallarmé, and a similarly mystical, dreamy mood unfurls in Henri Dutilleux’ masterful Cello Concerto from 1970, inspired by a poem by Baudelaire. The title refers to a distant, lost world: Tout un monde lointain. Multi-award winning French cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière debuts with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
Swedish Valborg Aulin (1860−1928) studied in Paris, and in four movements – or scenes – depicts atmospheres and events in the French capital. Tableaux Parisiens was her sole orchestral work, but it was never performed in her lifetime.
Bolero is Ravel’s best-known work; it was originally music for ballet but is more often performed as a concert piece. Bolero is a Spanish dance in triple metre. The music consists of a recurring melody and has the same rhythm throughout – but what incredible orchestration, and what a structure! Bolero was an immediate success – much to the composer’s surprise.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planWatch the concert at Konserthuset Play.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planFrench music, French atmospheres and a Spanish dance for orchestra.
Friday 5 April 2024 19.00Anton Holmer. Photo: Elliott Elliott
Victor Julien-Laferrière. Photo: Jean-Baptiste-Millot
Members from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Yanan Li
French music, French atmospheres and a Spanish dance for orchestra.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planNot only is this programme infused with France and French music – Swedish conductor Anton Holmer also has a link to the French music scene: during 2021–23, he was been assistant conductor with the Orchestre National de Lyon. He debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at a summer concert in 2022 and was promptly invited to return.
Debussy’s sensual depiction of the awakening of a faun is inscribed for eternity in music history. This music is inspired by a poem by Mallarmé, and a similarly mystical, dreamy mood unfurls in Henri Dutilleux’ masterful Cello Concerto from 1970, inspired by a poem by Baudelaire. The title refers to a distant, lost world: Tout un monde lointain. Multi-award winning French cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière debuts with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
Swedish Valborg Aulin (1860−1928) studied in Paris, and in four movements – or scenes – depicts atmospheres and events in the French capital. Tableaux Parisiens was her sole orchestral work, but it was never performed in her lifetime.
Bolero is Ravel’s best-known work; it was originally music for ballet but is more often performed as a concert piece. Bolero is a Spanish dance in triple metre. The music consists of a recurring melody and has the same rhythm throughout – but what incredible orchestration, and what a structure! Bolero was an immediate success – much to the composer’s surprise.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planThe Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planMusic with wings and the world premiere of a new trumpet concerto. Executive and Artistic Director Stefan Forsberg hosts and introduces the concert.
Thursday 11 April 2024 19.00Lisa Streich. Photo: Harald Hoffmann
Lucas Lipari-Mayer
Ilan Volkov
Members from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: Mats Lundqvist
Music with wings and the world premiere of a new trumpet concerto. Executive and Artistic Director Stefan Forsberg hosts and introduces the concert.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating planLisa Streich’s original scores are like maps of sound. The music is sometimes reminiscent of the aural worlds of nature or the city, and the composition emerges as a “sound conductor”. She sees this as sculpting with an orchestra or ensemble, and a sort of choreography emerges from the sound, inviting not only listeners, but viewers as well. She has gained more and more international attention.
In Segel (Sail), the music surges forth, whispering and breathing, occasionally whipping about – are these lines hitting a mast? In Flügel (Wings), Streich imagined the orchestra as a being with bodies in the middle and wings at the sides. How does she make it float and fly? Ishjärta (Ice Heart) paints a picture of the blood-filled warmth of a heart on one side, and its insulation within a shroud on the other.
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov and the festival opening also features a world premiere: a newly composed trumpet concerto with Italian-Hungarian Lucas Lipari-Mayer performing the solo part. Among others, he studied under Håkan Hardenberger and has been a member of French contemporary music specialists Ensemble Intercontemporain since 2018.
“I feel that music has the ability to capture the truth. And I can experience the truth with Gustav Mahler,” says Lisa Streich who also included Blumine by Mahler – this beautiful andante movement is from the final version of his Symphony No. 1. “Music is the only thing that allows me to feel the truth of another human being,” says Streich.
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Exhibition in the foyer
Designgymnasiet in Stockholm presents textile artworks in white interpreting the piece Flügel by Lisa Streich.
The Main Hall currently has capacity for 1,770 people, spread across the stalls, first and second balconies and choir balcony. Each floor can be accessed by lift or the stairs. Due to the location of pillars, a number of seats have a fully or partially restricted view. These are indicated in the booking system. The hall has six wheelchair places.
The Main Hall seating plan