A world-renowned orchestra

In the entertaining Epiphany Concert, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by the British conductor John Wilson. He is an authority on film music and has reconstructed and arranged many classic soundtracks for concert settings. Since 1994, Wilson leads his own hand-picked orchestra, specializing in film and musicals, and performs annually at The Proms summer festival.

The Twelfth Night Concert 2023 was a resounding success when British conductor John Wilson led the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra in a program blending seductive film music with the best from the world of musicals. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we welcome him back in a programme featuring irresistible musical hits by the very best in the genre – Bernstein, Sondheim, Gershwin, and Rodgers & Hammerstein, among others.

On vocals: the British actor and musical star Julian Ovenden. He has appeared in television series in both England and the USA and participated in numerous famous musical productions on Broadway in New York and in the West End in London. He has also performed on several occasions at Proms concerts alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

The concert will be recorded by SVT and broadcast later the same day, Sunday 5 January 2025, with a repeat on Saturday 11 January 2025.

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As traditional as the concert itself is the dance afterwards in the Grünewald Hall. This time with Laszlo Royale – the band, led by singer Malena Laszlo, that has provided entertainment at countless Nobel banquets!

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Menu

Puff pastry roll with mushrooms and shaved pecorino
Bouchée with crayfish Skagen, vendace roe, and dill
Cold poached salmon with dill mayonnaise
French potato salad with capers, spring onion, and a creamy dressing
Romaine lettuce with pickled cucumber, feta cheese, spring onion, and dill
Two types of cheese – Taleggio and Cheddar, served with marmalade
Bread, crispbread & whipped butter

Served with a glass of wine, beer, or a non-alcoholic alternative.

Clara Schumann's piano concerto is stunningly beautiful and a sparkling fireworks display. She was one of the most admired and influential pianists of the 19th century, performing in the same league as Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt. In the concerto, we also hear the inspiration from Chopin, whom she preferred over Liszt. Clara Schumann was only 16 years old when she premiered the virtuosic concerto herself in Leipzig in 1835.

The soloist in Clara Schumann's piano concerto is the Romanian-British pianist Alexandra Dariescu, known for her expressive playing as well as her advocacy for female composers. Around the same time Clara performed her piano concerto, she met her future husband Robert, one of the great figures of Romantic music. His impassioned overture to the incidental music for Manfred is based on Lord Byron's dramatic poem.

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was a friend of Clara and Robert Schumann – also a great Romantic with a particular sense for melodic beauty. This is evident in his Fifth Symphony, which is also a tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach. Swedish conductor Magnus Fryklund makes his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with this concert. Educated in Denmark, he has made a name for himself particularly as a skilled opera conductor, including in France.

The humorous and captivating story of Peter and the Wolf is undoubtedly the most beloved musical tale ever created. Based on a Russian folktale, Sergei Prokofiev's remarkable music has entertained generations of children and adults since its premiere in 1936.

Peter lives a simple life on a farm with his grandfather. He is an outcast among the local children, and his best friends are a bird, a cat, and a slightly scatterbrained duck. Despite his grandfather’s warnings, Peter takes his friends into the alluring but dangerous forest, where the wolf is lurking.

Each character is musically portrayed by a different instrument. The cat is a softly prowling clarinet, the duck a quacking oboe, the grandfather is heard through the bassoon, and the wolf is brought to life by three menacing French horns. To help children learn what the different instruments look and sound like, the performance begins with an introduction by each instrument.

The performance also features illustrations by the legendary artist Ilon Wikland, renowned for her long collaboration with Astrid Lindgren.

Please note

Strollers and prams cannot be brought into Konserthuset Stockholm and are best left at home. A designated stroller tent is set up outside the entrance, where prams can be left, subject to space availability.