In the early decades of the 18th century, a new trend emerged where beautiful arias were accompanied by a violin or a cello. Here, we get to enjoy exquisite singing and captivating instrumental music with the great Swedish soprano Maria Keohane.

Some of the composers who embraced the new style were Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonio Caldara, Giovanni Bononcini, and Nicola Porpora – the latter, in addition to writing over 50 operas and numerous other compositions, also taught several renowned singers, including the castrato Farinelli.

Since its establishment in 2015, Orpheus Baroque Stockholm has become an indispensable part of the capital's music scene and a meeting place for both philharmonic musicians and some of Sweden's leading freelance baroque musicians.

The artistic directors are the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's solo cellist Johannes Rostamo and the lutenist Jonas Nordberg. The ensemble's more chamber music-oriented approach, as we encounter here, is presented under the banner of Orpheus’ Treasure Trove.

The highly acclaimed English mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly has held the title of Dame Sarah since 2017. Her opera career has been long and successful, spanning from the Baroque to contemporary repertoire. Among the many celebrated productions she has been involved in are Mozart's Titus at the English National Opera, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at La Scala in Milan, and Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Alongside her opera career worldwide, art song has always been a central part of her artistry. Here we hear her in songs that truly showcase her versatility, by composers including Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler, Barber, Eisler, and Britten.

Magnus Svensson is the artistic director of the lied concert series. Alongside concert activities in the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe, he has also performed in Russia and the USA. Since 2012, he has also worked at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music on the re-publishing of older Swedish music.

Pavel Haas (1899–1944) and Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) emerged from similar roots in the Bohemia that is now Czechia: Haas from Brno and Mahler from Kaliste, 120 kilometers away. Both were Jewish, but Haas hailed from a Moravian-Jewish family and Mahler from an Austrian-Jewish one.

Pavel Haas was deported during World War II to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, later to be murdered in Auschwitz. His only symphony remained unfinished. It wasn't until half a century later that the remaining material was orchestrated, and the work premiered in 1998. Haas' creative output is characterized by Bohemian and Jewish influences, with elements of folk music and jazz. The symphony is a remarkable, staggering piece.

If darkness pervades Haas' symphony, Mahler's fourth symphony is brighter, lyrical, and playful. It's been dubbed "sky blue" at times, and the fourth movement features a soprano solo: "Wir geniessen die himmlischen Freuden," "We enjoy the heavenly pleasures."

The soloist is our latest soprano star in the international music scene, Christina Nilsson. Conducting this captivating program with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is the American conductor Joshua Weilerstein, noted for his championing of rare works.