Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Be prepared: this is a programme that traverses emotional extremes. It begins gently and melancholic – sorrow can be beautiful – and concludes with the emotional outbursts that arise when the thunderous blows of the orchestra's thirteen hammers resonate through history, to the bone and marrow. It’s music that shakes you to the core.

In between, entirely different music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. His first piano concerto is a musical fireworks display with dizzyingly fast runs across the entire range of the piano. At this concert, the rockets are ignited by the acclaimed British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was only seventeen when he wrote his wonderful overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Yet it is considered one of his first mature masterpieces, and the young composer manages to capture the full range of emotions that Shakespeare presents in his universally human comedy.

Emotions, indeed. British composer Anna Clyne composed the opening piece Within Her Arms in 2009, in memory of her mother. The music for string ensemble resonates with a tenderness and warmth reminiscent of for instance the Renaissance composer John Dowland.

Closing The Confession of Isobel Gowdie was composed in 1990 by the Scottish composer James MacMillan, who is featured in the International Composer Festival this autumn. Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft has testified to the transformative experience when he first heard the incredibly powerful work as a teenager.

Isobel Gowdie was burned at the stake during the Scottish witch trials in the 17th century. ”On behalf of the Scottish people, the work craves absolution and offers Isobel Gowdie the mercy and humanity that was denied her in the last days of her life”, writes MacMillan. In her memory, he composed an unforgettable and poignant ”requiem” for orchestra.

Read more about chief conductor Ryan Bancroft

Be prepared: this is a programme that traverses emotional extremes. It begins gently and melancholic – sorrow can be beautiful – and concludes with the emotional outbursts that arise when the thunderous blows of the orchestra's thirteen hammers resonate through history, to the bone and marrow. It’s music that shakes you to the core.

In between, entirely different music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. His first piano concerto is a musical fireworks display with dizzyingly fast runs across the entire range of the piano. At this concert, the rockets are ignited by the acclaimed British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was only seventeen when he wrote his wonderful overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Yet it is considered one of his first mature masterpieces, and the young composer manages to capture the full range of emotions that Shakespeare presents in his universally human comedy.

Emotions, indeed. British composer Anna Clyne composed the opening piece Within Her Arms in 2009, in memory of her mother. The music for string ensemble resonates with a tenderness and warmth reminiscent of for instance the Renaissance composer John Dowland.

Closing The Confession of Isobel Gowdie was composed in 1990 by the Scottish composer James MacMillan, who is featured in the International Composer Festival this autumn. Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft has testified to the transformative experience when he first heard the incredibly powerful work as a teenager.

Isobel Gowdie was burned at the stake during the Scottish witch trials in the 17th century. ”On behalf of the Scottish people, the work craves absolution and offers Isobel Gowdie the mercy and humanity that was denied her in the last days of her life”, writes MacMillan. In her memory, he composed an unforgettable and poignant ”requiem” for orchestra.

Read more about chief conductor Ryan Bancroft

Serge Rachmaninoff was strengthened by the success of Piano Concerto No. 2, which led him to attempt the symphonic form yet again – thank goodness. The brilliant Symphony No. 2 is deeply emotional, with a warm, overflowing flood of melodies. 

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led here by Fredrik Burstedt, who is also active as a violinist and first concertmaster with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. He studied conducting with the legendary Jorma Panula, among others, and has conducted many Swedish orchestras as well as numerous opera productions, including at the Royal Swedish Opera and Vattnäs Konsertlada.

Dutch violinist Janine Jansen is a beloved and frequent performer at Konserthuset. With such empathy and intensity, few can captivate an audience like Jansen. At this concert, Janine Jansen and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra perform a new violin concerto by Britta Byström. 

Byström comments, “In this violin concerto, the soloist moves between ‘day music’ and ‘night music.’ The swirling and light day music becomes shorter and shorter as the night music lengthens – we hear all of the orchestral sounds that emerge as darkness falls. Composing for Janine Jansen has always been a dream for me and this piece is inspired by her expressive style.”

Spanish conductor Jaime Martín also leads the orchestra in Brahms’ Serenade No. 1. It would take time before Brahms presented a symphony, but the 25-year-old’s growing mastery of the orchestral form is evident here in this lyrical and heartfelt music. Jaime Martín was chief conductor of the Gävle Symphony Orchestra until recently and is now chief conductor of both the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Dutch violinist Janine Jansen is a beloved and frequent performer at Konserthuset. With such empathy and intensity, few can captivate an audience like Jansen. At this concert, Janine Jansen and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra perform a new violin concerto by Britta Byström. 

Byström comments, “In this violin concerto, the soloist moves between ‘day music’ and ‘night music.’ The swirling and light day music becomes shorter and shorter as the night music lengthens – we hear all of the orchestral sounds that emerge as darkness falls. Composing for Janine Jansen has always been a dream for me and this piece is inspired by her expressive playing.”

Spanish conductor Jaime Martín also leads the orchestra in Brahms’ Serenade No. 1. It would take time before Brahms presented a symphony, but the 25-year-old’s growing mastery of the orchestral form is evident here in this lyrical and heartfelt music. Jaime Martín was chief conductor of the Gävle Symphony Orchestra until recently and is now chief conductor of both the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.

Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is one of the most played of all violin concertos composed in the twentieth century. Sibelius, himself a violinist, may have composed the concerto he would have wanted to play himself – even if it was at a technical level that far exceeded his own – in a farewell to his youthful dream of a career as a violin virtuoso. With the unparalleled Dutch violinist Janine Jansen, we can await a captivating, intense and emotional adventure.

Before his departure to the “new world”, America, Antonín Dvorák composed his life-affirming Eighth Symphony. As ever with Sibelius, this music is naturalistic and filled with roaring energy. We hear plenty of Bohemian folk melodies and dancing movement here. Do we also hear a forest filled with birdsong, and nostalgic longing for home?

The concert opens with music by Swedish Andrea Tarrodi. Camelopardalis is the Latin name for the giraffe constellation. In the middle of Tarrodi’s piece, the giraffe’s theme is presented by the bassoon. 

It is our great delight to welcome the return of Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. In recent years, he has established a close relationship with the orchestra and last conducted the Nobel Prize Concert in 2022. Honeck is chief conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has been familiar to many listeners in Sweden over the years as chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is one of the most played of all violin concertos composed in the twentieth century. Sibelius, himself a violinist, may have composed the concerto he would have wanted to play himself – even if it was at a technical level that far exceeded his own – in a farewell to his youthful dream of a career as a violin virtuoso. With the unparalleled Dutch violinist Janine Jansen, we can await a captivating, intense and emotional adventure.

Before his departure to the “new world”, America, Antonín Dvorák composed his life-affirming Eighth Symphony. As ever with Sibelius, this music is naturalistic and filled with roaring energy. We hear plenty of Bohemian folk melodies and dancing movement here. Do we also hear a forest filled with birdsong, and nostalgic longing for home?

The concert opens with music by Swedish Andrea Tarrodi. Camelopardalis is the Latin name for the giraffe constellation. In the middle of Tarrodi’s piece, the giraffe’s theme is presented by the bassoon. 

It is our great delight to welcome the return of Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. In recent years, he has established a close relationship with the orchestra and last conducted the Nobel Prize Concert in 2022. Honeck is chief conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has been familiar to many listeners in Sweden over the years as chief conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Millesgården Museum, in collaboration with the Stockholm Concert Hall, organises outdoor concerts at Millesgården over four evenings in May. Experience music, art, and good food in perfect harmony.

The doors to the sculpture park open well before the concert, allowing visitors to experience the magical Millesgården in its early summer attire. Enjoy a glass of bubbly or some light refreshments at the summer café outside Annes House, then find a nice spot to settle down and enjoy the music.

At each event, an ensemble performs music carefully selected to suit both the location and the time when the Milles couple lived there. This third concert in the series features a string quartet consisting of musicians from the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

In collaboration with Millesgården

With these concerts, Ryan Bancroft completes his first season as chief conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. And he does so with a key number that is close to his heart: Stravinsky’s The Firebird – not the often-played suite, but the complete ballet music from 1910. “It’s an enormous orchestra and the best version,” says Bancroft. 

This also marks a step in the recordings of Stravinsky’s ballets Petrushka, The Firebird and The Rite of Spring – Bancroft and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s first recordings together. 

It is possible that Lili Boulanger heard at least one of these Stravinsky ballets, all of which premiered in her home city of Paris in the early twentieth century. First, we hear Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps – one of the last works this young genius composed before passing away much too young in 1918, at just 24 years old. Despite the circumstances, this is bright music with light and playful steps.  

Åland-born soprano Sofie Asplund is doubly present in Konserthuset this season: both in a lied concert and on this occasion, when she sings arias by Mozart. Asplund has garnered a great deal of acclaim in recent years and has been praised for several of her interpretations of roles on Sweden’s opera stages. 

With these concerts, Ryan Bancroft completes his first season as chief conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. And he does so with a key number that is close to his heart: Stravinsky’s The Firebird – not the often-played suite, but the complete ballet music from 1910. “It’s an enormous orchestra and the best version,” says Bancroft. 

This also marks a step in the recordings of Stravinsky’s ballets Petrushka, The Firebird and The Rite of Spring – Bancroft and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s first recordings together. 

It is possible that Lili Boulanger heard at least one of these Stravinsky ballets, all of which premiered in her home city of Paris in the early twentieth century. First, we hear Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps – one of the last works this young genius composed before passing away much too young in 1918, at just 24 years old. Despite the circumstances, this is bright music with light and playful steps.  

Åland-born soprano Sofie Asplund is doubly present in Konserthuset this season: both in a lied concert and on this occasion, when she sings arias by Mozart. Asplund has garnered a great deal of acclaim in recent years and has been praised for several of her interpretations of roles on Sweden’s opera stages. 

A secret concert then, somewhat unlikely in its content. After 21 years as Executive and Artistic Director of Konserthuset Stockholm, Stefan Forsberg is retiring. This is commemorated with a concert that unfortunately we can’t say much about. It's all hush-hush and antics when a beloved director is bid farewell in grand style with music.

Allow yourself to be surprised, just like Stefan himself. We can reveal that Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft will be leading the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and the one cleverly guiding through music and mischief is actor Andreas T Olsson. There will be around ten Swedish and international guest artists, singers and instrumentalists. There will be classical music, with the occasional jazzy number, some summery melodies – and some that are harder to define.

We won't reveal much more for now, as the unlikely concert becomes likely and real only at 4:00 PM on June 15th. Join us on a concert adventure filled with surprises, laughter, and a touch of wistfulness.

Mozart's 27 piano concertos are all musical highlights. Here's a unique opportunity to hear the only one he composed for two pianos and orchestra. An exquisite dialogue unfolds between the two soloists, who are the young and increasingly acclaimed pianists Sebastian Iivonen and John Nalan, both from Sweden.

We also hear Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, one of classical music's most popular works. Elgar had entertained his wife one evening with musical caricatures of people in their circle of friends, which grew into a series of variations for orchestra. "At first, I worked in a humorous spirit and continued seriously", Elgar recounted.

Between Mozart and Elgar, we hear new American music inspired by jazz, spirituals, hip-hop, and rock, while rooted in the classical tradition with a distinct American flavour. Jessie Montgomery was raised in Manhattan's Lower East Side in New York, an environment that strongly influenced her music.

Lina González-Granados from Colombia makes her debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in this concert. She is a super talent who has had great success in the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition and has assisted Riccardo Muti at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Gärdet concert by the Maritime Museum is an indispensable tradition for Stockholmers. It’s a chance to pack a picnic basket or buy food on-site and enjoy sublime music and perhpaps a sing-along on the green grass.

Norwegian conductor Cathrine Winnes, former chief conductor of the Swedish Wind Ensemble and known to a wide audience, not least through the SVT series She Composes Like a Man, leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Guest artist is none other than the beloved Nisse Landgren, on both vocals and trombone.

In cooperation with Dagens Nyheter.

Helena Munktell’s romantic Suite for large orchestra is a piece that the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has never before performed in its entirety. The music was composed in 1895, and like the now often performed Bränningar, this suite was premiered in Monte Carlo in the late 19th century.

Next, we hear the young Swedish soprano Jessica Elevant tackle Wagner's Wesendonck Songs – music filled with burning longing and celestial beauty. Jessica Elevant has recently gained attention for her participation in Daniel Nelson's opera Pride and Prejudice at the Norrlandsoperan. This marks her debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Another debutant is Sergej Bolkhovets – as a conductor, that is. He has previously been a violin soloist with the orchestra. He leads the orchestra in Shostakovich's first symphony. Already in this symphony, Shostakovich demonstrates his phenomenal ability to handle the orchestra. It's personal music with humorous twists and great finesse. A remarkable symphonic debut by a 19-year-old composer.

For the show Beyond Words, young students have written poetry, and readings are interspersed with classical music. This is a collaboration with the community group Livet Bitch! Scenkonst, with whom the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has previously worked on the production of Romeo and Juliet (2021 and 2022).

At the same time, El Sistema Södertälje and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra celebrate twelve years of collaboration and perform together here. El Sistema Södertälje began its activities in the autumn of 2012 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra as a partner.

The orchestra's musicians serve as role models and mentors to the students, and over the years, many close friendships have been formed between the students and the philharmonic musicians.

Read more about El Sistema Södertälje (opens in a new window)