Mahler and Bartók

Phenomenal violinist Alina Ibragimova made her debut as soloist at Konserthuset in 2017 with Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No 1. She regularly performs with elite orchestras around the world, and leads the acclaimed string quartet Chiaroscuro. 

We hear her in Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1, a musical portrait of the young violinist Stefi Geyer, with whom he was in love and to whom he wrote long, passionate letters. The musical declaration of love in the first movement is beautiful in a nearly otherworldly way at times.

Elevated musical beauty is also present in Gustav Mahler’s beloved Symphony No. 5, which is perhaps his most played. The symphony is a captivating musical journey that begins with mourning and concludes with a triumphant finale – with a subtle note of irony. In between, he has charged the work with a grand, dancing scherzo, which is a song that celebrates the joy of existence, full of desire and sensual experience. And then of course, we have the famous Adagietto.

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by American conductor Ryan Bancroft, who is chief conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra as of this season.