Schumann's First

What could be better on an April evening than a spring symphony! With his Symphony No. 1 in B Major, Robert Schumann wanted to describe the lush greenery adorning the entire world, and we can thank Clara, his wife-to-be at the time, for the symphony’s existence at all.

In January 1839, she wrote in a letter that she thought it was time he began composing for orchestra, because his creativity was too great for the feeble piano. It was not only Clara who inspired him. The symphony’s opening can also be seen as a wordless musical interpretation of a poem by Adolf Böttger, which encourages the reader to turn around and change direction.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted here by Karl-Heinz Steffens, chief conductor of both the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Oslo, and of Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz. He is also a popular guest conductor with numerous European orchestras and opera houses.

The programme also features Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s masterful overture from 1832.