Christmas gifts

The Eichenholz couple host the Epiphany Concert this time: soprano Agneta Eichenholz and conductor Mika Eichenholz.

We are brought to Vienna, the Vienna of the late 1800 and early 1900; to the city of great art and paradoxes, to the city of elegance and walzes, to the city of eroticism and psychoanalysis. It was an age of great discoveries and creativity, of deep introspection and wild expressionism. Wien, wien, nur du allein has shown this kind of light-heartedness and profoundness at the same time. 

Agneta Eichenholz is one of Sweden’s foremost lyric sopranos, with an impressively wide repertoire, from the baroque to contemporary music. She had her international breakthrough in 2007, in the title role of Alban Berg’s Lulu at the Royal Opera House in London. 

Conductor Mika Eichenholz is a frequent guest conductor in European and South American orchestras. He is also a sought-after opera conductor, with engagements at the opera in Gothenburg, the Wermland Opera and Folkoperan in Stockholm. He has conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra on a number of occasions, most recently in 2019.  

Tristan and Isolde is Richard Wagner’s most personal and sensual musical drama. In it, he has fully realised his dramatic ideals and the music is filled with symphonic splendour. This trailblazing music intertwines melodies that weave in and around each other, creating a rare sense of timelessness that reinforces the opera’s theme of endless love. 

This concert version of Tristan and Isolde is populated by an internationally renowned ensemble of singers, featuring Heidi Melton. These world-class singers are all among the elite in the world of Wagner.

For the home audience, Swedish Katarina Karnéus may be the most familiar among them, as she has performed at Konserthuset Stockholm several times before (including in Schoenberg’s Erwartung in Double Drama in January 2019).

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the singers are led by American conductor Karina Canellakis.

Tristan and Isolde is Richard Wagner’s most personal and sensual musical drama. In it, he has fully realised his dramatic ideals and the music is filled with symphonic splendour. This trailblazing music intertwines melodies that weave in and around each other, creating a rare sense of timelessness that reinforces the opera’s theme of endless love. 

This concert version of Tristan and Isolde is populated by an internationally renowned ensemble of singers, featuring Heidi Melton. These world-class singers are all among the elite in the world of Wagner.

For the home audience, Swedish Katarina Karnéus may be the most familiar among them, as she has performed at Konserthuset Stockholm several times before (including in Schoenberg’s Erwartung in Double Drama in January 2019).

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the singers are led by American conductor Karina Canellakis.

The outstanding pianist Yuja Wang has performed at Konserthuset on several occasions, both in solo recitals and with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. She was also Konserthuset’s Artist-in-Residence for the 2016–17 season. She has garnered acclaim for numerous albums (on Deutsche Grammophon), most recently for her recording of John Adams’ piano concerto Must The Devil Have All The Good Tunes? – which was composed especially for her. 

Superlatives and ovations have decorated Yuja Wang’s impressive career. She is renowned for her fabulous technique as well as her charisma and stage presence. “Her combination of technical ease, colouristic range and sheer power has always been remarkable [...] but these days there is an ever-greater depth to her musicianship, drawing you into the world of each composer with compelling immediacy.” (Financial Times)

Yuja Wang was born in China but has lived in the US for many years. Her breakthrough was in 2007, when she replaced Martha Argerich at a concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Brilliant vocalist Gregory Porter is a beloved guest at the Konserthuset Stockholm. This is his fifth time performing with us since the debut in 2014. The album All Rise (2020) was his seventh and perhaps most personal album yet, with original material and partly autobiographical lyrics. His most recent release (November 2021) was the double album Still Rising – a collection that includes new tracks, new arrangements and a series of duets, with Jamie Collum, Dianne Reeves and many more. 

He tours around the world this season and Stockholm is one of his last stops. 

Gregory Porter released his first album in 2010, and the jazz world instantly recognised the qualities of this phenomenal artist. His debut album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal, and he has since won several Grammys.

One of his main sources of inspiration is Nat ”King” Cole, and the fifth album was a tribute to this giant – often referred to when describing Porter’s fully-voiced baritone and smooth art of phrasing.

Over the Rainbow: Judy Garland’s life is defined by her search for the rainbow with which she is forever associated. She became an icon – a beloved, admired, highly awarded artist and actor, and she has a well-established place in history books as one of the foremost entertainers of the twentieth century.

Judy Garland was born in Minnesota on 10 June 1922. On this day 100 years later, Isabella Lundgren and a band, together with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, perform music and present stories from Judy Garland’s life.

Isabella Lundgren is one of Sweden’s most prominent jazz singers. “This divinely talented singer is among the best on the jazz scene”, Svenska Dagbladet wrote.  ”It is as if she makes time slow down, simply by being.” Isabella Lundgren is a great admirer of Judy Garland, and the initiator of this tribute. We also hear a guest performance from Bo Sundström, frontman of Bo Kaspers Orkester.

Indeed, this is a tribute to Judy Garland and her immortal music, but it is also the story of the other side of success, and the power of music – which can alleviate loneliness, even when the rainbow and sparkle feel far away. In Judy Garland’s singing, we hear not the icon, but the person – the woman who experienced both heaven and hell. Audiences were so deeply moved when she sang that they hardly dared to breathe.

With help from animated movies and music, we will take a journey of discovery into the world of numbers – which is filled with curiosities. Just think of what happens when you turn the number 9 upside down!

We will hear well-known music such as Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms, The Silly Song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and songs in both to 2- and 3-time. And composer Molly Kien has written a new piece about the number 8.

Well-known Ayla Kabaca will lead the fun and the sing-along together with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

With help from animated movies and music, we will take a journey of discovery into the world of numbers – which is filled with curiosities. Just think of what happens when you turn the number 9 upside down!

We will hear well-known music such as Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms, The Silly Song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and songs in both to 2- and 3-time. And composer Molly Kien has written a new piece about the number 8.

Well-known Ayla Kabaca will lead the fun and the sing-along together with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Brahms’ outstanding violin concerto is music with an abundance of melodies and harmonic adventures that lead far beyond the ordinary pathways. The slow movement begins with one of Brahms’ most beautiful melodies – which is presented by the oboe! The euphoric finale offers the occasional nod to friend, inspiration and violinist Joseph Joachim – who performed the world premiere of the concerto – and his Hungarian musical roots, which shimmer here and there in the music.

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider was born and lives in Denmark, and is among the elite performers of classical music. He has recently been appointed music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon and he is principal guest conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in St. Petersburg. He is also one of the world’s most in-demand violinists and we get to hear him in this capacity as the soloist in Brahms’ Violin Concerto.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by American Alan Gilbert, who is also the orchestra’s conductor laureate. The second portion of the concert has an American theme: Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, inspired by the time the composer spent in Paris in the 1920s.

In addition to the usual musical instruments, car horns are also heard here, and next to Rhapsody in Blue, this is one of Gershwin’s most performed and popular pieces. Many people will recognise the music from the 1951 movie, An American in Paris, in which Gene Kelly plays an American artist in Paris.

Jan Lundgren is one of our foremost musicians and through some 50 albums and in tons of projects and collaborations, he has demonstrated his ability to embrace tradition with simultaneous self-renewal. In recent years, Jan Lundgren has presented a series of concerts under the collective title Kind of Jazz, with invited artists and ensembles. Over three concerts, Kind of Jazz I–III, three new artistic meetings are introduced (February, March and April).

This first one, however, features Jan Lundgren meeting – himself, and facing his own musical memories. A rich variety of expressions and the crossing of boundaries has always been an integral part of Jan Lundgren’s artistry. A programme with jazz standards, Lundgren’s original material as well as excursions towards folk music, for instance. Music and memories has also been the title of a couple tours Jan Lundgren did in later years.

This concert is part of a series of three, Buy all three concerts and get a discount. Read more

Brahms’ outstanding violin concerto is music with an abundance of melodies and harmonic adventures that lead far beyond the ordinary pathways. The slow movement begins with one of Brahms’ most beautiful melodies – which is presented by the oboe! The euphoric finale offers the occasional nod to friend, inspiration and violinist Joseph Joachim – who performed the world premiere of the concerto – and his Hungarian musical roots, which shimmer here and there in the music.

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider was born and lives in Denmark, and is among the elite performers of classical music. He has recently been appointed music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon and he is principal guest conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in St. Petersburg. He is also one of the world’s most in-demand violinists and we get to hear him in this capacity as the soloist in Brahms’ Violin Concerto.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by American Alan Gilbert, who is also the orchestra’s conductor laureate. The second portion of the concert has an American theme: Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, inspired by the time the composer spent in Paris in the 1920s.

In addition to the usual musical instruments, car horns are also heard here, and next to Rhapsody in Blue, this is one of Gershwin’s most performed and popular pieces. Many people will recognise the music from the 1951 movie, An American in Paris, in which Gene Kelly plays an American artist in Paris.

Jan Lundgren is one of our foremost musicians and through some 50 albums and in tons of projects and collaborations, he has demonstrated his ability to embrace tradition with simultaneous self-renewal. In recent years, Jan Lundgren has presented a series of concerts under the collective title Kind of Jazz, with invited artists and ensembles. Over three concerts, Kind of Jazz I–III February, three new artistic meetings are introduced (February, March and April).

This season’s second edition of Kind of Jazz is a tribute to one of the greats in Swedish jazz: pianist Bengt Hallberg. Some may remember that Jan Lundgren also collaborated with Bengt Hallberg (1932–2013) towards the end of Hallberg’s life, resulting in a cd and duo concerts called Back 2 Back.

American tenor saxophonist Harry Allen’s playing is often compared with legends like Stan Getz (1927–91). And Allen and Lundgren have done tribute concerts like this previously, presenting legends that influenced them both – like Jan Johansson and Stan Getz. The Jan Lundgren/Harry Allen Quartet is formed by Harry Allen and Jan Lundgren Trio: Hans Backenroth double bass and Kristian drums.

This concert is part of a series of three, Buy all three concerts and get a discount. Read more

Dianne Reeves is one of the leading American jazz vocalists of the contemporary era. She is active in the same tradition as legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae.

Reeves is deeply rooted in classic jazz and blues, but brings the music into modernity with fresh influences and elements. Throughout her career, Dianne Reeves has regularly moved beyond the borders of jazz to intermingle world music and pop with her own autobiographical songs, inspired by African folk music.

Dianne Reeves and her quartet are beloved return guests. They last visited Konserthuset in autumn 2013. 

The Enigma Variations placed Edward Elgar on the international music map and are among the most frequently played and popular works of classical music. One evening, Elgar entertained his wife with musical caricatures of people in their social circle, and these were developed into a number of variations for orchestra. “This work commenced in a spirit of humour and continued in deep seriousness,” Elgar has said. The fourteen people described include his wife, the publisher Jaeger and Elgar himself.

This concert will begin with Scottish composer James MacMillan’s (born 1959) cello concerto, which is the second of three parts of a large symphonic triptych. The world premiere of this incredibly intense and masterful concerto, which places enormous demands on the soloist, was performed in 1997 by Mstislav Rostropovich. At this concert, Marie Macleod, solo cellist of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, will tackle the challenging cello part.

Ryan Bancroft – winner of the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in 2018 – conducts the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019 and most recently appeared here in May 2021 with, among other works, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, a concert that is also available on Konserthuset Play. Now we get to see and hear this charismatic young conductor lead the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra once again. 

The Enigma Variations placed Edward Elgar on the international music map and are among the most frequently played and popular works of classical music. One evening, Elgar entertained his wife with musical caricatures of people in their social circle, and these were developed into a number of variations for orchestra. “This work commenced in a spirit of humour and continued in deep seriousness,” Elgar has said. The fourteen people described include his wife, the publisher Jaeger and Elgar himself.

This concert will begin with Scottish composer James MacMillan’s (born 1959) cello concerto, which is the second of three parts of a large symphonic triptych. The world premiere of this incredibly intense and masterful concerto, which places enormous demands on the soloist, was performed in 1997 by Mstislav Rostropovich. At this concert, Marie Macleod, solo cellist of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, will tackle the challenging cello part.

Ryan Bancroft – winner of the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in 2018 – conducts the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He debuted with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019 and most recently appeared here in May 2021 with, among other works, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, a concert that is also available on Konserthuset Play. Now we get to see and hear this charismatic young conductor lead the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra once again. 

Pianist Jan Lundgren is one of our foremost musicians and through some 50 albums and in tons of projects and collaborations, he has demonstrated his ability to embrace tradition with simultaneous self-renewal. In recent years, Jan Lundgren has presented a series of concerts under the collective title Kind of Jazz, with invited artists and ensembles. Over three concerts, Kind of Jazz I–III, three new artistic meetings are introduced (February, March and April).

Jan Lundgren and his collaborative partner of many years, the phenomenal bass player Hans Backenroth, join forces with the Gustaf Sjökvist Chamber Choir in a landscape based entirely on classical music, to be sure, but that has been reshaped into something new. In 2007, Jan Lundgren worked with the choir on the record Magnum Mysterium. Now in arrangements by Martin Berggren, we will hear well-known classics with a new twist. Jan Lundgren is the piano soloist and will interact with Backenroth and the choir under the baton of Florian Benfer. This fully composed material can dissolve into improvisation at a moment’s inspiration.

We will hear music by J.S. Bach, Frédéric Chopin, Béla Bartók, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninoff and more. Leading the performance will be German conductor Florian Benfer, who has been artistic director of the Gustaf Sjökvist Chamber Choir since autumn 2018. Ten years earlier, in 2008, he won the Gustaf Sjökvist Scholarship for young choir directors and has been involved in numerous collaborations since then, many of which have focused on new music.

This concert is part of a series of three, Buy all three concerts and get a discount. Read more