Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Mozart's twenty-first piano concerto is one of his most beloved and performed works. Since Bo Widerberg used its enchantingly beautiful second movement in his film about the tightrope walker Elvira Madigan, many refer to the concerto as Elvira Madigan. It is also one of Mozart's most majestic and virtuosic concertos. The soloist is the acclaimed young French-Albanian pianist Marie-Ange Nguci, who in recent years has been praised by critics and has thrilled audiences in concert halls worldwide.

Beethoven's overture to Heinrich Joseph von Collin's tragic drama about the Roman general Coriolanus is grandiose and dramatic, yet also enchantingly beautiful. It is written in the key of C minor, which Beethoven often used in his most intense and heroic works.

With Nielsen, humour is often present. This is particularly true for his second symphony, which was inspired by a visit to a village inn. On the wall hung a painting that ironically depicted the four temperaments of humans – the choleric, the phlegmatic, the melancholic, and the sanguine – which Nielsen portrays with good humour, a touch of drama, and palpable warmth in his second symphony, also known as the "Four Temperaments".

The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Alan Gilbert, the orchestra's former chief conductor (2000–2008) and since then its Conductor Laureate. He has served as the music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the chief conductor of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg and the music director of the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm.

Sibelius' Fifth Symphony is his most performed and beloved. He already felt during its composition that he was creating something great. ”Have received a wonderful theme”, he noted in a diary entry. He had seen sixteen swans, which gave him the idea for the magnificent theme in the final movement. ”One of the great experiences of my life! My God, what beauty.” 

The orchestra is led by the Latvian conductor Aivis Greters, who has conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra a couple of times in recent years. As a prelude to Sibelius after the interval, we hear the latest orchestral work by the Swedish composer Jacob Mühlrad. The world premiere of Resil was recently performed by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and here the work is presented for the first time in a version for a large symphony orchestra.

The composer, pianist, and conductor Adolf Wiklund's two piano concertos are among the best Swedish works in their genre. The first concerto from 1906 is grandly romantic in the footsteps of Rachmaninov, spiced with a touch of Grieg and a pinch of his friend Stenhammar. Wiklund was also the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra's second conductor, from 1925 to 1938.

As the soloist in Wiklund's first piano concerto, we have the versatile pianist Magnus Svensson. He performs concerts both in Sweden and internationally. He has particularly immersed himself in the art lieder and is the artistic director for Konserthuset’s series of lied concerts. Since 2012, he has also been working at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music with re-publishing older Swedish music.

Sibelius' Fifth Symphony is his most performed and beloved. He already felt during its composition that he was creating something great. ”Have received a wonderful theme”, he noted in a diary entry. He had seen sixteen swans, which gave him the idea for the magnificent theme in the final movement. ”One of the great experiences of my life! My God, what beauty.” 

The orchestra is led by the Latvian conductor Aivis Greters, who has conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra a couple of times in recent years. As a prelude to Sibelius after the interval, we hear the latest orchestral work by the Swedish composer Jacob Mühlrad. The world premiere of Resil was recently performed by the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and here the work is presented for the first time in a version for a large symphony orchestra.

The composer, pianist, and conductor Adolf Wiklund's two piano concertos are among the best Swedish works in their genre. The first concerto from 1906 is grandly romantic in the footsteps of Rachmaninov, spiced with a touch of Grieg and a pinch of his friend Stenhammar. Wiklund was also the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra's second conductor, from 1925 to 1938.

As the soloist in Wiklund's first piano concerto, we have the versatile pianist Magnus Svensson. He performs concerts both in Sweden and internationally. He has particularly immersed himself in the art lieder and is the artistic director for Konserthuset’s series of lied concerts. Since 2012, he has also been working at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music with re-publishing older Swedish music.