Ton Koopman conducts

In recent years, the Dutch Baroque specialist Ton Koopman has performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions, and has also appeared at Konserthuset with the acclaimed Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which he founded over 40 years ago. 

At this concert, he first leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in Sinfonia per chiesa by Joseph Martin Kraus, “the Swedish Mozart”. It is also known as the “Parliament Symphony”, because its world premiere was performed at the Stockholm Cathedral in conjunction with the opening of parliament in 1789.

In addition, we hear early symphonies by Joseph Haydn. The inventiveness that characterises Haydn’s work is already evident in these symphonies. Admittedly, romantic Beethoven is who we often bring up in reference to bold and magnificent symphonies, but even before then, the drama of Haydn’s music was awe-inspiring.

These masterful and life-affirming symphonies with a series of solo elements were composed when Haydn had just become associated with the Esterházy Court in the early 1760s. The two symphonies performed here have been subtitled Noon and Evening.