Schumann Piano Concerto

Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes is one of the world’s most prominent and in-demand concert pianists. He debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra with Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Since then, he has appeared in Konserthuset’s Main Hall on several occasions, most recently in 2014 in a solo recital dedicated entirely to Beethoven. Now we hear him perform Robert Schumann’s beloved Piano Concerto, which is in fact reminiscent of Grieg’s equally popular concerto in several ways. It is heartfelt and poetic music without unnecessary decorations.

Sergey Prokofiev said his fifth symphony is a tribute to the “generosity, strength and spiritual purity of the free and happy individual. I did not deliberately choose the theme; rather, it came to me, then matured, and had to be expressed”. The symphony was written in 1944 and it has become one of the composers' most popular and played works. The sharp but playful and fast movements have a strong counterweight in the slow third movement where an underlying anxiety and fear rubs off.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by the very well-respected Franz Welser-Möst, who received the orchestra’s title Eric Ericson Honorary Chair in 2018. This also means he leads the orchestra in several concert productions each season.