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Beast Sampler was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the NDR Sinfonieorchester in Hamburg, and received its premiere in 2014. The work is dedicated to the Royal Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor, Sakari Oramo. A key starting point for Anders Hillborg was to focus more on sound objects than on harmonically based pitch structures. He often refers to the orchestra as a “sound beast”, in which the individual identities of the instruments merge into a single, unified sonority. Samplings from earlier pieces, together with newly created material, form the structural backbone of the work.

Édouard Lalo came from an old Spanish family that had lived in France for several generations. His reputation grew considerably when the great Spanish violinist Pablo Sarasate premiered his Violin Concerto Op. 20 in 1874, followed the next year by Symphonie espagnole – a true stroke of fortune for the 52-year-old composer. Lalo called it a “Spanish symphony”, yet it is essentially a violin concerto in which the soloist is given every opportunity to shine, both through technical brilliance and expressive nuance, while remaining an integral part of the symphonic texture.

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No 1 "Titan" The first symphony was premiered in Budapest with the composer as conductor. The music attracted violent criticism, because this was something that was not expected. Mahler had made a name for himself as a brilliant opera conductor but as a composer he was virtually unknown, and now he came up with an ambitious, stylistically variegated and strangely personal symphony. Few works by Mahler have since undergone so many revisions - right up until 1898. When the first version was found in the 1960s, it was clear that the differences were large. The opening is compelling: it begins with an unforgettable feeling of space and stillness. Perhaps Mahler was thinking of when he was left alone in the forest by his father with the promise not to move until his father returned - and it took many hours. Gradually, thematic fragments emerge: horn calls, trumpet fanfares, birdsong. The second movement was first called "Full Sails" and reflects a longing for nature and lively, Austrian-inspired peasant dances. "Mourning march à la Callot" he called the third movement, and the etching intended by the artist shows the dead hunter being carried on a stretcher by the animals of the forest. It is a parodic picture and a highly parodic piece of music, which is based on the well-known children's song Frère Jacques in an ironic, grotesque and bitter minor version. In the trio part there is another quote from Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. The finale is the despair of a wounded heart. He borrowed the title of the movement from Dante: "From inferno to paradise". Music may seem to start in hell, and Mahler was probably a long way to paradise. But he didn't get there yet, he did so only in the second symphony - and it was started immediately after the first.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1902 and Stockholm Concert Hall has been the orchestra's home since 1926. Chief conductor since 2023 is award-winning American Ryan Bancroft. Among the guest conductors are greats such as Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Herbert Blomstedt, Nathalie Stutzmann, Gianandrea Noseda and honorary conductors Sakari Oramo and Alan Gilbert. Sakari Oramo was the orchestra's chief conductor in the years 2008–2021. Together, over the years, they gained a lot of attention for both recordings and international tours. The German daily Die Welt described the Royal Philharmonic as "one of the world's best orchestras". The Royal Philharmonic has received a lot of attention for its recordings. Among these can be mentioned Carl Nielsen's six symphonies on three CDs (BIS), which were praised by critics worldwide and the CD with symphonies no. 1 and 3 was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award for best classical orchestral production. Two CDs with recordings of Anders Hillborg's music have both been awarded Grammis, and they have also released a CD with the American star soprano Renée Fleming. The recording of Nielsen's and Sibelius' violin concertos together with Johan Dalene was awarded a Grammis in 2023.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.

German-born violinist Clara-Jumi Kang made her debut with the Royal Philharmonic in 2021. This season she is their Artist in Residence. uring her career, she has received numerous awards, including first prize at the Indianapolis International Violin Competition 2010, the Sendai Violin Competition and the Seoul Violin Competition. Her Beethoven Violin Sonatas with pianist Sunwook Kim, released on Accentus 2021, received outstanding reviews. Highlights of recent years include festival appearances at the BBC Proms, the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and her debut at the Salzburg Festival. She has made her debut with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia with Daniel Harding, and returned to the Munich Philharmonic and the Rotterdam Philharmonic with Chief Conductor Lahav Shani. She also made her debut with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Zubin Mehta on tour in China and Europe. Clara-Jumi Kang was born in Germany and at the age of seven received a scholarship to the Julliard School in New York.

Pyotr Tjajkovskij (1840-1893) Symphony No 5 Pyotr Tchaikovsky had been financially independent for a long time when, in the summer of 1888, he set out on his fifth symphony. A wealthy widow, Nadezjda von Meck, had been so captivated by his compositions that she gave him a generously increased annual maintenance. After four months of work on the symphony, he wrote to Madame Meck that he was almost finished with his 'symphony of fate'. The motif of fate in the Fifth comes creeping in the low register of the clarinets. You are immediately captivated by the simplicity and harmony by sensitively placed wind solos. The second movement allows two emotionally charged motifs to alternate with each other. One is presented by the horn and the other by the oboe. But here too, the motif of fate comes into play. The third movement contributes contrast in the form of a well-polished elegant waltz, the dance form that so many times has drawn masterpieces from Tchaikovsky's pen. It begins as if it were a ballet scene and only gradually does the music take on a symphonic character. The dark thoughts do not escape even in the whirlwinds of the ball. In the finale, the fate theme undergoes a transformation. The tempo becomes more march-like and shifts in major - it gradually even becomes grandiose.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1902 and Stockholm Concert Hall has been the orchestra's home since 1926. Chief conductor since 2023 is award-winning American Ryan Bancroft. Among the guest conductors are greats such as Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Herbert Blomstedt, Nathalie Stutzmann, Gianandrea Noseda and honorary conductors Sakari Oramo and Alan Gilbert. Sakari Oramo was the orchestra's chief conductor in the years 2008–2021. Together, over the years, they gained a lot of attention for both recordings and international tours. The German daily Die Welt described the Royal Philharmonic as "one of the world's best orchestras". The Royal Philharmonic has received a lot of attention for its recordings. Among these can be mentioned Carl Nielsen's six symphonies on three CDs (BIS), which were praised by critics worldwide and the CD with symphonies no. 1 and 3 was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award for best classical orchestral production. Two CDs with recordings of Anders Hillborg's music have both been awarded Grammis, and they have also released a CD with the American star soprano Renée Fleming. The recording of Nielsen's and Sibelius' violin concertos together with Johan Dalene was awarded a Grammis in 2023.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1902 and Stockholm Concert Hall has been the orchestra's home since 1926. Chief conductor since 2023 is award-winning American Ryan Bancroft. Among the guest conductors are greats such as Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Herbert Blomstedt, Nathalie Stutzmann, Gianandrea Noseda and honorary conductors Sakari Oramo and Alan Gilbert. Sakari Oramo was the orchestra's chief conductor in the years 2008–2021. Together, over the years, they gained a lot of attention for both recordings and international tours. The German daily Die Welt described the Royal Philharmonic as "one of the world's best orchestras". The Royal Philharmonic has received a lot of attention for its recordings. Among these can be mentioned Carl Nielsen's six symphonies on three CDs (BIS), which were praised by critics worldwide and the CD with symphonies no. 1 and 3 was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award for best classical orchestral production. Two CDs with recordings of Anders Hillborg's music have both been awarded Grammis, and they have also released a CD with the American star soprano Renée Fleming. The recording of Nielsen's and Sibelius' violin concertos together with Johan Dalene was awarded a Grammis in 2023.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.

Seong-Jin Cho gained attention in 2015 when he won the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw. In 2016 he signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon and in 2023 he was awarded the prestigious Samsung Ho-Am Prize in the Arts. Cho collaborates with the world's leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchester de Paris, the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He works with conductors such as Myung-Whun Chung, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Simon Rattle, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Lahav Shani. In the 2024/25 season Seong-Jin Cho takes up the mantle of Artist in Residence with the Berliner Philharmoniker. He notably returns to London’s BBC Proms, to the Philadelphia Orchestra to open their season with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, to New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Santtu-Matias Rouvali, and to The Cleveland Orchestra under Franz Welser-Möst. Cho embarks on several international tours, including his notable return to Wiener Philharmoniker with Andris Nelsons in Korea and to Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks with Sir Simon Rattle in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, following a performance of Brahms Piano Concerto. No. 2 in Munich. Born in 1994 in Seoul, Seong-Jin Cho gave his first public solo concert aged 11. In 2009, he became the youngest ever winner of Japan's Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. Seong-Jin Cho is now based in Berlin. He visited Sweden in the spring of 2024 and performed with the Swedish Royal Philharmonic at a guest concert in Gothenburg.

Richard Wagner (1813–1883) Wesendonck Lieder Fünf Gedichte von Mathilde Wesendonk Der Engel · Stehe still · Im Treibhaus · Schmerzen · Träume Richard Wagner only composed around twenty songs, including a handful in 1839–1842, when he tried in vain to win the hearts of Parisians. The next step was in 1857–1858: in political asylum in Zürich during his most revolutionary period, he simultaneously became involved in a passionate romance with Mathilde Wesendonck, the wife of a wealthy Swiss silk merchant. Wagner and his wife had a cottage on the family’s estate in the countryside. One thing is for certain: as a revolutionary, Wagner was guided more by artistic dreams than political convictions. He worked on Tristan und Isolde and read his libretto for the opera to his lover. She was delighted and responded with her own poetry, which was infused with the same spirit. Wagner was captivated by her poems and set them to music. He composed Der Engel, Schmerzen and Träume in the winter of 1857. They were completed the following May. In the first poem, she presents Wagner as the savior of art. He himself wrote on the sheet music for the sketches of the first act of Tristan: “To the angel who lifted me so high.” Love may have enchanted them, but in concrete terms, the work on Mathilde’s five poems contributed inspiration to Tristan. Material from Im Treibhaus (In the Greenhouse) was incorporated into the introduction to the third act. Schmerzen (Pain) begins with the same chord that also begins the second act, and Träume (Dreams) can be seen as an early version of the love duet in the same act.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.

Richard Wagner (1813–1883) Wesendonck Lieder Fünf Gedichte von Mathilde Wesendonk Der Engel · Stehe still · Im Treibhaus · Schmerzen · Träume Richard Wagner only composed around twenty songs, including a handful in 1839–1842, when he tried in vain to win the hearts of Parisians. The next step was in 1857–1858: in political asylum in Zürich during his most revolutionary period, he simultaneously became involved in a passionate romance with Mathilde Wesendonck, the wife of a wealthy Swiss silk merchant. Wagner and his wife had a cottage on the family’s estate in the countryside. One thing is for certain: as a revolutionary, Wagner was guided more by artistic dreams than political convictions. He worked on Tristan und Isolde and read his libretto for the opera to his lover. She was delighted and responded with her own poetry, which was infused with the same spirit. Wagner was captivated by her poems and set them to music. He composed Der Engel, Schmerzen and Träume in the winter of 1857. They were completed the following May. In the first poem, she presents Wagner as the savior of art. He himself wrote on the sheet music for the sketches of the first act of Tristan: “To the angel who lifted me so high.” Love may have enchanted them, but in concrete terms, the work on Mathilde’s five poems contributed inspiration to Tristan. Material from Im Treibhaus (In the Greenhouse) was incorporated into the introduction to the third act. Schmerzen (Pain) begins with the same chord that also begins the second act, and Träume (Dreams) can be seen as an early version of the love duet in the same act.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Ryan Bancroft is Chief Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic's since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and gained international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors. In 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Swedish Philharmonic made their very first joint European tour. Bancroft has played with a number of leading European and American orchestras, such as the Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rai Orchestra in Turin, City of Birmingham Symphony and San Francisco Symphony. He has conducted all major Swedish orchestras, including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. With the Royal Swedish Philharmonic, he has premiered a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto.