Programme

In the early decades of the 18th century, a new trend emerged where beautiful arias were accompanied by a violin or a cello. Here, we get to enjoy exquisite singing and captivating instrumental music with the great Swedish soprano Maria Keohane.

Some of the composers who embraced the new style were Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonio Caldara, Giovanni Bononcini, and Nicola Porpora – the latter, in addition to writing over 50 operas and numerous other compositions, also taught several renowned singers, including the castrato Farinelli.

Since its establishment in 2015, Orpheus Baroque Stockholm has become an indispensable part of the capital's music scene and a meeting place for both philharmonic musicians and some of Sweden's leading freelance baroque musicians.

The artistic directors are the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's solo cellist Johannes Rostamo and the lutenist Jonas Nordberg. The ensemble's more chamber music-oriented approach, as we encounter here, is presented under the banner of Orpheus’ Treasure Trove.

The highly acclaimed English mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly has held the title of Dame Sarah since 2017. Her opera career has been long and successful, spanning from the Baroque to contemporary repertoire. Among the many celebrated productions she has been involved in are Mozart's Titus at the English National Opera, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at La Scala in Milan, and Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Alongside her opera career worldwide, art song has always been a central part of her artistry. Here we hear her in songs that truly showcase her versatility, by composers including Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler, Barber, Eisler, and Britten.

Magnus Svensson is the artistic director of the lied concert series. Alongside concert activities in the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe, he has also performed in Russia and the USA. Since 2012, he has also worked at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music on the re-publishing of older Swedish music.

Pavel Haas (1899–1944) and Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) emerged from similar roots in the Bohemia that is now Czechia: Haas from Brno and Mahler from Kaliste, 120 kilometers away. Both were Jewish, but Haas hailed from a Moravian-Jewish family and Mahler from an Austrian-Jewish one.

Pavel Haas was deported during World War II to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, later to be murdered in Auschwitz. His only symphony remained unfinished. It wasn't until half a century later that the remaining material was orchestrated, and the work premiered in 1998. Haas' creative output is characterized by Bohemian and Jewish influences, with elements of folk music and jazz. The symphony is a remarkable, staggering piece.

If darkness pervades Haas' symphony, Mahler's fourth symphony is brighter, lyrical, and playful. It's been dubbed "sky blue" at times, and the fourth movement features a soprano solo: "Wir geniessen die himmlischen Freuden," "We enjoy the heavenly pleasures."

The soloist is our latest soprano star in the international music scene, Christina Nilsson. Conducting this captivating program with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is the American conductor Joshua Weilerstein, noted for his championing of rare works.

The Luxembourg cellist Benjamin Kruithof has in recent years performed recitals on stages such as Kings Place in London, Salle Cortot in Paris, and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and has been a soloist with ensembles including the East-West Chamber Orchestra and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. It is also the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra together with Concertgebouw that has nominated Benjamin Kruithof for Rising Stars.

He performs here together with the Georgian pianist Ana Bakradze, who now lives in Berlin and studies at the Universität der Künste Berlin. It is a personal programme with a French accent: Gabriel Fauré's beautiful and melancholic Élegie and the swiftly fluttering Papillon, and Nadia Boulanger's both decorative and spirited Three Pieces. Additionally, a tango by the Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla, who studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. As a contrast, there is a completely new piece by the British composer Sally Beamish.

Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 24 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all members of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). A handful of young musicians and ensembles from various countries are selected each year and given the opportunity to tour the concert halls and perform before international audiences. Experience shows that those who are selected as Rising Stars also have internationally successful careers.

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Menu: Roasted corn soup with bell pepper oil. The soup is served with sourdough bread, crispbread, butter, mineral water/light beer, coffee/tea, and a piece of chocolate. Wine and beer available for purchase for those who wish.

All soups are lactose- and gluten-free. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements when booking.

Konserthuset Stockholm at Hötorget is one of Sweden’s great architectural masterpieces. Created during a period of expansion in Stockholm, by the Swedish architect Ivar Tengbom, it opened in 1926. Konserthuset Stockholm was built for the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and has since the start been the dedicated venue for the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony as well as many other prestigious events.

• The guided tour is held in Swedish.
• Maximum 25 persons/tour.

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Subtitles
Subtitles in English and Swedish is activated by using the CC control in the video player.

Pianist Lukas Sternath is on the path to a brilliant career. He has performed in renowned concert halls such as Vienna's Musikverein, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and Tonhalle in Zurich. Sternath was a member of the famous Vienna Boys' Choir and later trained at the Conservatory in Vienna, as well as studying under Igor Levit in Germany.

Sternath eagerly tackles the hyper-virtuosic repertoire, including Franz Schubert's heroic and extremely challenging Wanderer Fantasy. Schubert himself couldn't play it well enough and is said to have remarked, "The devil can play this piece!" In addition to a newly composed piece, Sternath also takes on Franz Liszt's monumental B minor Sonata, a captivating and forward-looking work filled with drama, beauty, power, and contemplation.

Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 24 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all members of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). A handful of young musicians and ensembles from various countries are selected each year and given the opportunity to tour the concert halls and perform before international audiences. Experience shows that those who are selected as Rising Stars also have internationally successful careers.

Lukas Sternath was nominated by Vienna’s Musikverein and Konzerthaus, and Philharmonie du Luxembourg.

Anyone familiar with jazz history knows that Charlie Parker in 1950 released two separate albums, both titled Charlie Parker with Strings, where he played jazz standards rather than his own compositions. These albums also became his best-selling records.

In other words, it’s no bad idea to revisit that concept – and that’s exactly what the American clarinettist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski and his ensemble do here. The versatile Peplowski has explored a wide range of musical genres, having collaborated with artists such as Mel Tormé, Peggy Lee, Madonna, Marianne Faithfull, and Woody Allen.

The distinguished Swedish jazz musician Klas Lindquist has performed with a range of prominent musicians and bands, and his own nine-piece ensemble, the Klas Lindquist Nonet, had its latest album, Alternative Source of Energy (2023), named Jazz Album of the Year by the readers of OrkesterJournalen.

Most of the music performed consists of the original arrangements from Charlie Parker’s best-selling 1950 albums. The ensemble of around 20 musicians is led by Calle Rasmusson.

Konserthuset Stockholm at Hötorget is one of Sweden’s great architectural masterpieces. Created during a period of expansion in Stockholm, by the Swedish architect Ivar Tengbom, it opened in 1926. Konserthuset Stockholm was built for the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and has since the start been the dedicated venue for the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony as well as many other prestigious events.

• The guided tour is held in Swedish.
• Maximum 25 persons/tour.

***

Subtitles
Subtitles in English and Swedish is activated by using the CC control in the video player.

Pavel Haas (1899–1944) and Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) emerged from similar roots in the Bohemia that is now Czechia: Haas from Brno and Mahler from Kaliste, 120 kilometers away. Both were Jewish, but Haas hailed from a Moravian-Jewish family and Mahler from an Austrian-Jewish one.

Pavel Haas was deported during World War II to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, later to be murdered in Auschwitz. His only symphony remained unfinished. It wasn't until half a century later that the remaining material was orchestrated, and the work premiered in 1998. Haas' creative output is characterized by Bohemian and Jewish influences, with elements of folk music and jazz. The symphony is a remarkable, staggering piece.

If darkness pervades Haas' symphony, Mahler's fourth symphony is brighter, lyrical, and playful. It's been dubbed "sky blue" at times, and the fourth movement features a soprano solo: "Wir geniessen die himmlischen Freuden," "We enjoy the heavenly pleasures."

The soloist is our latest soprano star in the international music scene, Christina Nilsson. Conducting this captivating program with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is the American conductor Joshua Weilerstein, noted for his championing of rare works.

Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 24 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all members of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). A handful of young musicians and ensembles from various countries are selected each year and given the opportunity to tour the concert halls and perform before international audiences. Experience shows that those who are selected as Rising Stars also have internationally successful careers.

The French Quatuor Agate took their name from Brahms's incredibly beautiful second string sextet, which he dedicated to one of his great loves, Agathe von Siebold (the other being Clara Schumann). The quartet has been awarded several prizes, including for the best performance of new music at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in Canada, and the audience prize at the Verbier Festival. Their recent debut album delves deeply into Brahms, featuring all three string quartets.

On the program, they also include Joseph Haydn's quartet commonly known as "The Joke," referring to his first substitution of a minuet movement with a scherzo, Italian for a joke or jest. Between Haydn's classical quartet and Korngold's restless and energetically explosive third string quartet, Quatuor Agate presents a newly composed piece by the exciting Ukrainian singer, pianist, organist, conductor, and composer Anna Korsun.

Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 24 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all members of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). A handful of young musicians and ensembles from various countries are selected each year and given the opportunity to tour the concert halls and perform before international audiences. Experience shows that those who are selected as Rising Stars also have internationally successful careers.