Mendelssohn and Bruckner

Mendelssohn and Bruckner

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's violin concerto ranks among the priceless masterpieces of classical music. He wrote it for his childhood friend and violin virtuoso Ferdinand David, and the result was extremely successful – for with its spiritual airiness and melodic beauty, the violin concerto is one of the most beloved works of all time.Violinist Augustin Hadelich began performing concerts at the age of 8 but suffered serious burns in an accident at the age of 15. After two years and many surgeries, he was able to resume playing the violin and now performs worldwide with leading orchestras and conductors. "It is a delight to work with Hadelich, for there is a clarity in his playing and everything is so well thought out without losing spontaneity", says chief conductor Ryan Bancroft, who leads the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.Anton Bruckner's extensive and grand symphonies never cease to amaze. According to Bruckner himself, the opening horn signal in the Fourth Symphony symbolizes the dawn after the night's rest. A captivating symphonic landscape emerges where the full range of the orchestra is used. This is Bruckner's most performed and beloved symphony, and it is also he who gave it the subtitle "The Romantic."Read more about chief conductor Ryan Bancroft

Mendelssohn Bartholdy Bruckner

Mendelssohn Bartholdy Bruckner

Mendelssohn Bartholdy Bruckner

Jordan, Lisiecki ・ Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Bruckner

Jacquot, Bomsori ・ Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Bruckner

Jacquot, Bomsori ・Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Bruckner

Smetana and Dvorák

The oceans, lakes, streams, and rivers have always been important sources of inspiration for artists, poets, and composers. In the famous Moldau by Smetana, celebrating its 200th anniversary, we hear how the babbling smaller streams wind their way through the landscape before flowing together into the mighty river. The melody comes from an old folk song that we recognize as Ack Värmeland, du sköna. Perhaps Smetana heard the melody when he was working as a conductor in Gothenburg in the 1850s?Like Smetana, Antonín Dvorák was from Czechia. In both their music, Czech culture and nature are important ingredients. Dvorák had great international success during his lifetime, being appointed, for example, as a composition professor in New York. His Symphony No. 9, From the New World, is the most famous, but many consider the seventh symphony to be one of his very best works.The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by German conductor Ruth Reinhardt – currently involved in the Royal Swedish Opera's production of Verdi's La traviata in spring 2024. She made her debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at a summer concert in 2018.

Haydn and Dvorák

Due to illness, cellist Amalie Stalheim has been forced to cancel. This also results in a programme change for tonight's concert. Instead of Grażyna Bacewicz’s First Cello Concerto, we will hear the German cellist Julian Steckel perform Haydn’s First Cello Concerto.The seas, lakes, streams, and rivers have always been important sources of inspiration for artists, poets, and composers. In Smetana's famous Moldau, celebrating its 200th anniversary, we hear how the bubbling smaller streams meander through the landscape before merging into the mighty river. The melody comes from an old folk song that we recognize as Ack Värmeland, du sköna. Perhaps Smetana heard the melody when he was working as a conductor in Gothenburg in the 1850s?Like Smetana, Antonín Dvorák was from Czechia. In both their music, Czech culture and nature are important ingredients. Dvorák had great international success during his lifetime and was appointed, for example, as a composition professor in New York. His Symphony No. 9, "From the New World", is the most famous, but many consider his seventh symphony to be one of his very best works.Julian Steckel steps in at the last minute as the soloist in a true classic: Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major – a masterpiece that disappeared and was rediscovered almost 200 years later, in the mid-20th century (incidentally, in Prague, which adds a Czech connection to the programme). The renowned German cellist Julian Steckel is admired for his emotional depth and communication with audiences. His career took off after winning the ARD Music Competition in 2010, and since then, he has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras.The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is led by German conductor Ruth Reinhardt – currently involved in the Royal Swedish Opera's production of Verdi's La traviata in spring 2024. She made her debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at a summer concert in 2018.