Lindberg and Prokofjev

When Prokofiev composed his Fifth Symphony in the summer of 1944, the war in Europe was still raging. He described it as a tribute to “the generosity, strength and spiritual purity of the free and happy man.” For Prokofiev personally, it was a time of great creativity – but perhaps he sensed what lay ahead for his homeland, the Soviet Union. The symphony’s playful, fast-paced movements are set in stark contrast to the slow third movement, steeped in unease and anxiety. After the war ended, tensions between East and West escalated, and the Cold War soon took hold.

Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in this symphony, one of Prokofiev’s most beloved and frequently performed works.

The concert opens with a new piece by Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg: a concerto for viola and orchestra, featuring Lawrence Power as soloist – one of the world’s leading violists. The work received its world premiere in Helsinki in 2024.

The viola is not a typical solo instrument, but it offers a wealth of expressive possibilities – something Lindberg has explored to the full. Scored for a slightly smaller orchestra, “Mozart-sized”, the concerto was written with the soloist in mind: “The concerto is dedicated to Lawrence Power. He’s a musician I truly admire,” says Magnus Lindberg, who, together with Kaija Saariaho, was featured in the 2002 Composer Festival at Konserthuset.

Read more about chief conductor Ryan Bancroft