Organ Matinée with Ulf Norberg

Konserthuset Stockholm’s organ matinées are immensely popular. These 45-minute mini concerts at lunchtime, in the company of the country’s leading organists, are performed on Konserthuset’s enormous organ – an orchestra in and of itself with 6,100 pipes. At this matinée, we will hear Ulf Norberg, organist in the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra since 2013.

He has selected several unusual and exciting pieces by Swedish composers. Ika Peyron (1845-1922) was a composer, pianist and organist, but primarily wrote songs, piano pieces and music for choir, as well as a few pieces for large organ, which we will hear now. Valborg Aulin was a famous figure in Stockholm’s music scene in the late nineteenth century. Much of her inspiration came from France and Ulf Norberg will perform her only piece for solo organ, Meditation. Gustaf Mankell (1812−1880) was born in Denmark but worked in Sweden. In addition to composing loads of organ music, he is known as the inspiration for the music professor in August Strindberg’s novel The Romantic Organist on Rånö.

In the original, Bach’s Chaconne in D minor comprised the fifth and last movement from the second partita for solo violin. With its explosively dramatic force, emotional intensity and complex structure, this music has captivated great soloists as well as other composers throughout the years. Chaconne has been arranged for formats ranging from other solo instruments to chamber ensemble and orchestra. Here, we will hear it performed in an arrangement for organ.

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Konserthuset Play
This concert will be recorded for Konserthuset Play and will be available from Sunday 17 October at 19.00.