Rachmaninov and Dvorák

Rachmaninoff’s breathtakingly beautiful Second Piano Concerto and Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony – From the New World – are two of the most beloved works in the classical repertoire. Rachmaninoff’s concerto is filled with passion, longing and romance, but also serenity and peace. For the first time at Konserthuset Stockholm, we welcome the extraordinary Armenian-American pianist Sergei Babayan – a giant among giants.

Dvořák’s New World Symphony, written during his years as a composition professor in the United States, has become one of the most frequently performed and cherished symphonic works in the world. In it, Dvořák masterfully combines the musical roots of his beloved Bohemia with influences from Native American melodies and spirituals.

The concert opens with music by the fascinating Hungarian-Croatian composer Dora Pejačević. We hear her richly late-Romantic Overture for Large Orchestra, in which she paints vibrant, shimmering harmonies with broad, expressive strokes. The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Austrian conductor Emmanuel Tjeknavorian.