Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

The concert can be seen at Konserthuset Play

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Is it possible to see music, and hear a picture? Yes: if you listen carefully in Trills and Dragon Ears, the double bass can be heard growling like a bear and the oboe gets a cobra to dance in Samarkand. 

Lennart Hellsing is one of Sweden's most beloved children’s book authors and his creations include Krakel Spektakel (“Noisy Spectacle”), Kusin Vitamin (“Cousin Vitamin”), Bagar Bengtsson (“Bengtsson the Baker”), Petronella från Plaskeby (“Petronella from Plaskeby”) and Herr Gurka (“Mr. Cucumber”).

Hellsing’s wonderful story Trills and Dragon Ears helps us to become familiar with the many different instruments of the symphony orchestra. In the verses, we encounter everything from a knight’s tower to expansive beaches, dragon’s caves and the seasons, all set to the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy and Alfvén. Trills and Dragon Ears is a wonderfully playful presentation by the orchestra. Swedish narrator: Ayla Kabaca. 

Merregnon: Land of Silence is the story of the orphan Miru, who embarks on an unforgettable adventure with her childhood friend Hikito and the trusty dog Mako. Their goal is to find out what is plaguing the Land of Silence, Merregnon.

The fantastical world is painted with beautiful images projected onto a big screen, captivating melodies and symphonic sounds. The story is by German author Frauke Angel and the music is composed by Yoko Shimomura, one of the most prominent video game music composers of our time. She composed the music for internationally best-selling games like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV.

German producer Thomas Böcker is behind the idea. His past endeavours include the incredibly successful concerts of video game music such as Final Symphony and Symphonic Fantasies. He has said that Merregnon: Land of Silence is a symphonic tale of courage, perseverance, solidarity and above all, freedom.

Merregnon: Land of Silence is the story of the orphan Miru, who embarks on an unforgettable adventure with her childhood friend Hikito and the trusty dog Mako. Their goal is to find out what is plaguing the Land of Silence, Merregnon.

The fantastical world is painted with beautiful images projected onto a big screen, captivating melodies and symphonic sounds. The story is by German author Frauke Angel and the music is composed by Yoko Shimomura, one of the most prominent video game music composers of our time. She composed the music for internationally best-selling games like Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV.

German producer Thomas Böcker is behind the idea. His past endeavours include the incredibly successful concerts of video game music such as Final Symphony and Symphonic Fantasies. He has said that Merregnon: Land of Silence is a symphonic tale of courage, perseverance, solidarity and above all, freedom.

The concert can be seen at Konserthuset Play

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After winning the prestigious Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition in 2019, Swedish soprano Johanna Wallroth quickly became established as one of the most in-demand young singers.

Here, together with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and chief conductor Sakari Oramo, she will perform American composer Samuel Barber’s atmospheric Knoxville: Summer of 1915. It is one of his most popular and frequently performed pieces, and depicts an idyllic summer with the flavours of vanilla and strawberries, peaceful porch swings and rattling streetcars. We will also hear her perform an aria from Stravinsky’s Neoclassical masterpiece The Rake’s Progress.

Music is a force of nature that can completely fulfil a person and transform an entire life, according to Finnish composer Outi Tarkiainen. In 2019, the BBC Philharmonic commissioned a piece by her for one of the Proms concerts and her Saxophone Concerto has been praised for its powerful charge and richly colourful orchestral movement. Here, we will hear the world premiere of her orchestral piece The Ring of Fire and Love.

Antonín Dvorák composed the Seventh Symphony after hearing Brahms’ Third Symphony, which he experienced as a musical vitamin boost. But even if Dvorák was inspired his mentor Brahms, who was eight years his senior, this symphony is utterly unique and brilliant, with elements of exhilaration, joyful outbursts, sadness and contemplation.