Mahler and Byström

Gustav Mahler was deeply moved by Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a collection of folk poems and songs. The texts inspired several of his most important works, not least these magical songs, which range from the deeply moving to the playfully humorous.
 Des Knaben Wunderhorn is not a song cycle in the usual sense: each song stands on its own, with its own expression and narrative. The songs were originally written with piano accompaniment, but Mahler’s own orchestration enhances their atmosphere.

Britta Byström’s music is often warm and intense, with intricate patterns and richly coloured textures. Her music has been described as “strikingly beautiful” – she herself uses words such as light and clarity. In her new work – a commission from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra – she has drawn inspiration from the Polish Nobel Prize laureate Wisława Szymborska. The movements are named after individual poems and reflect their combination of seriousness and lightness.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft, and the soloist is the acclaimed Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill. She appears regularly at leading opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Bavarian State Opera and is a sought-after guest on concert stages.