Schumann’s Second Symphony

Robert Schumann’s Second Symphony encompasses everything from quiet reflection to exuberant energy and determination, ultimately arriving at a powerful, life-affirming finale. Bright, forward-looking music – a sonic triumph over Schumann’s personal doubts and melancholy.

The concert opens with Olivier Messiaen’s Les offrandes oubliées (The Forgotten Offerings), subtitled méditation symphonique (symphonic meditation). The slow opening gives way to a fast central section full of energy, before the music returns to an extremely slow conclusion. Static chords, a very slow tempo and strings rising towards ever higher spheres offer us Messiaen’s own glimpse of eternity.

The orchestra is led by the young American conductor Sasha Scolnik-Brower, who here makes his debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently a Bernard Haitink Conducting Fellow with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he works closely with Sir Simon Rattle and leads various projects and concerts. In recent years, he has made notable debuts with several leading European orchestras.