Soup Concert with harp and cello

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic’s harpist Laura Stephenson and solo cellist Marie Macleod in three twentieth-century pieces for this relatively unusual instrument combination. The pieces by Martinu and Debussy were originally with piano, but are performed here in versions with harp. 

The incredibly prolific Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu (1890–1959) is rarely heard in the repertoire at our latitudes, despite the personal, attractive and captivating music he composed in a neoclassical style. The playful “Rhythmic Etudes” are from 1931. 

Fratres by Arvo Pärt (born 1935) is one of the pieces that defined Pärt’s thoughtful, spiritualised and “listening” style, and it was an enormous success. The music is also heard in several movies. The piece does not indicate a specific instrument, but leaves it open, and as a result it is played in many different versions. It is based on variations on a simple theme.

The three-movement sonata by Claude Debussy was composed in 1915, towards the end of his life, and is considered a masterpiece in the repertoire. Debussy had originally imagined more sonatas like this one, for different instruments, but when he died in 1918, only three of six intended sonatas had been composed. The one for cello and piano (performed here on harp) was the first one he composed in the series.  

Menu: Asparagus soup with roasted asparagus. The soup is served with sourdough bread, crispbread, whipped butter, and cheese as well as drinks and coffee/tea with a small biscuit. All the soups are lactose- and gluten-free. Please let us know any dietary requirements when booking.