La valse

Pianist Roger Murano has established himself on the international scene as one of the leading interpreters of the French piano repertoire, and according to Britain’s The Times, Swedish Håkan Hardenberger is the best trumpet player in our galaxy, and a significant pioneer of the contemporary repertoire for trumpet. He has played with ensembles including the Vienna and New York Philharmonics, and with conductors such as Alan Gilbert, Paavo Järvi and Andris Nelsons.

In Paris in the spring of 2016, Hardenberger and Muraro gave the world premiere of Histories Vraies by French composer Betsy Jolas. They are now coming to Konserthuset to play it with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Born in 1926, Jolas studied in New York and Paris under Messiaen and has composed without interruption since 1945.

The concert will also include music by Maurice Ravel. Miroirs is a suite of five movements, each one dedicated to a member of the artist’s group Les Apaches. We will hear one of Ravel’s most popular pieces from the suite, Alborada del gracioso, a technically challenging work with Spanish themes, and Une barque sur l’océan, which Ravel composed after an inspiring seven-week cruise. The concluding La valse from 1920 pays tribute to the waltz – Rave’s favourite dance.