Genre: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

International Composer Festival – Opening

Sir James MacMillan is the composer of the year and Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft opens the festival.

This year's International Composer Festival at Konserthuset Stockholm is dedicated to the Scottish composer James MacMillan. His music combines raw emotional power with spiritual focus, rooted in his Catholic faith.

MacMillan often draws inspiration from traditional Scottish music and culture, and the tone poem The Death of Oscar is based on one of the legends of the Celtic poet Ossian. These ancient stories have had a significant influence on the image of Scotland, inspiring composers such as Mendelssohn-Bartholdy when he wrote The Hebrides, and Goethe in The Sorrows of Young Werther.

The trombone concerto oscillates between darkness and light, with dance-like episodes and meditative calm. At times, it is incredibly beautiful and poignant. MacMillan composed it in memory of his granddaughter Sara Maria MacMillan, who died at the young age of five from an incurable brain disease.

James MacMillan shares his strong Catholic faith with Olivier Messiaen (1908–92), and both composers' music contains spiritually meditative elements. Messiaen's Les offrandes oubliées – The Forgotten Offerings – was his very first published orchestral piece. It is subtitled Méditation symphonique, symphonic meditation. This is music in which Messiaen gives us his own glimpse of eternity.

The Concerto for Orchestra, ”Ghosts”, is the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra's co-commissioned work for the festival. The piece was premiered a few months ago in London. The Guardian wrote about “a remarkably effective work” and noted its “energy and thrilling drama.” The title Ghosts is a reference to Beethoven's Ghost Trio, and because the music “seems to be haunted by other, earlier musical spirits and memories,” as MacMillan puts it.

Read our interview with James MacMillan (in Swedish)

Learn more about Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft

Sir James MacMillan is the composer of the year and Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft opens the festival.

Thursday 14 November 2024 19.00

Ends approximately 21.00

Price:

145-470 SEK

This year's International Composer Festival at Konserthuset Stockholm is dedicated to the Scottish composer James MacMillan. His music combines raw emotional power with spiritual focus, rooted in his Catholic faith.

MacMillan often draws inspiration from traditional Scottish music and culture, and the tone poem The Death of Oscar is based on one of the legends of the Celtic poet Ossian. These ancient stories have had a significant influence on the image of Scotland, inspiring composers such as Mendelssohn-Bartholdy when he wrote The Hebrides, and Goethe in The Sorrows of Young Werther.

The trombone concerto oscillates between darkness and light, with dance-like episodes and meditative calm. At times, it is incredibly beautiful and poignant. MacMillan composed it in memory of his granddaughter Sara Maria MacMillan, who died at the young age of five from an incurable brain disease.

James MacMillan shares his strong Catholic faith with Olivier Messiaen (1908–92), and both composers' music contains spiritually meditative elements. Messiaen's Les offrandes oubliées – The Forgotten Offerings – was his very first published orchestral piece. It is subtitled Méditation symphonique, symphonic meditation. This is music in which Messiaen gives us his own glimpse of eternity.

The Concerto for Orchestra, ”Ghosts”, is the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra's co-commissioned work for the festival. The piece was premiered a few months ago in London. The Guardian wrote about “a remarkably effective work” and noted its “energy and thrilling drama.” The title Ghosts is a reference to Beethoven's Ghost Trio, and because the music “seems to be haunted by other, earlier musical spirits and memories,” as MacMillan puts it.

Read our interview with James MacMillan (in Swedish)

Learn more about Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft

  • The music

    Approximate times
  • James MacMillan The Death of Oscar
    10 min
  • James MacMillan Trombone Concerto
    30 min
  • Intermission
    25 min
  • Olivier Messiaen Les offrandes oubliées "Méditation symphonique"
    11 min
  • James MacMillan Concerto for Orchestra ”Ghosts” (The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Joint Commission)
    25 min
  • Participants

  • Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Ryan Bancroft conductor
  • Peter Moore trombone
  • Susanne Rydén host

Thursday 14 November 2024 19.00

Ends approximately 21.00

Price:

145-470 SEK


A cello rises to the sky in James MacMillan’s striking cello concerto. Marie Macleod is the solist and this is followed by Ryan Bancroft leading the orchestra in Elgar’s masterpiece Enigma Variations.

Useful information for your visit.

Choose from several classical Swedish dishes, soups, and wraps. Pre-order your meal, up to 48 hours before the start of the concert.