Schubert and the Song of the Robin

When Anton Holmer conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra last year in Ravel’s Bolero and music by Debussy, Dagens Nyheter’s Camilla Lundberg gave the concert a top score – five out of five! Holmer is without a doubt one of Sweden’s most prominent young conductors, with growing international recognition. Now he returns to the podium to lead the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic in music by Franz Schubert and Tebogo Monnakgotla.

Schubert was in his early twenties when he composed his Sixth Symphony. It is often referred to as the “Little C major” to distinguish it from the “Great C major” Symphony No. 9. But the label is misleading – this is jubilant music, full of youthful energy. The beautiful melody in the second movement was later used by famous the beloved Swedish comedy duo Hasse and Tage in their revue Spader Madame! – where it became Donna Juanita, sung by Monica Zetterlund.

Tebogo Monnakgotla is the 2025–26 Season Composer at Konserthuset Stockholm. One of Sweden’s most acclaimed composers, she is represented here with The Robin – music inspired by the song of the European robin and by Selma Lagerlöf’s fairy-tale bird Rödbröst (Redbreast).