Soup Concert with clarinet

At this soup concert, the clarinet is in focus through three chamber music pieces which present the various richly expressive forms of the instrument in different ways.

Béla Bartók’s Contrasts is based on Hungarian and Romanian dance melodies. In the final movement, Bartók reinforces the folk-music-like tone by having the violin be slightly out of tune! The piece was commissioned by Benny Goodman and violinist Joseph Szigeti, and the world premiere was in 1940 in Carnegie Hall. 

In the summer of 1894, Johannes Brahms composed his final chamber music pieces – a pair of sonatas for clarinet and piano. The first is imbued with abundant passion and powerful emotions, while also offering a fine example of his mature musicality.

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s brother Felix encouraged his sister to compose music, but he objected to her work being published. Fortunately, her music has been preserved and her most productive period was in the 1830s.

Johan Franzén has been alternate section leader of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra since 1997, and in 2013 he was appointed Philharmonic Member of the Year. Johannes Lörstad holds soloist diplomas from both Utrecht and Malmö, and in 2005 he became section leader of the second violin section in the orchestra. Stefan Lindgren holds degrees from both the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Juilliard School in New York. Since 2007, he has been the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s orchestral pianist.

Menu: Kale soup, served with chopped egg and chive cream.