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Ida Moberg (1859-1947) Orchestral Suite: Sunrise 1. Sunrise 2. Prelude - activity 3. Evening 4. Stillness For Finnish composer Ida Moberg, composing meant searching for the ultimate truths of life. Her philosophical and esoteric compositions often express an individual’s spiritual quest and inner transformation. The Sunrise orchestral suite (1907) is also an inner journey, where searching motifs alternate with mystical visions and silences. The evocation of nature serves as metaphors for meditation and for communicating with the universe. The first movement (Sunrise) is built on a wide range, from the ripple of a few notes to a soaring chorale-like completion – like a great spiritual awakening. Then we are guided through the day’s tasks and activities, leading up to the evening’s rest. Moberg conducted the premiere of the work in Viborg in 1908. She began her career as a singer and piano teacher, and only later did she train as a composer and conductor. She was a pioneer in theosophical and anthroposophical circles in Finland and is now also a queer icon. Susanna Välimäki

Anders Hillborg, a constantly relevant figure on the music scene, is one of Sweden’s most internationally sought-after composers. Recent works include Piano Concerto No. 2, written for Emanuel Ax, and Hell Mountain—a tribute to Gustav Mahler—which premiered with Klaus Mäkelä and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2025. Alexander Kantorow gave the premiere of Hillborgs suite for solo piano in Lucerne in 2026. The Sax Concerto was commissioned by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and written for his son, Theo Hillborg. “It is a great privilege for both Theo and me that the world premiere of my saxophone concerto is being performed by the dream team of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Pekka Kuusisto. I have written pieces for Theo before, but this is the first large-scale work featuring a full orchestra. Theo plays all the saxophones; we considered including the tenor sax for a while, but ultimately decided to focus on the soprano sax—in my opinion, the most appealing instrument in the saxophone family. The saxophone begins tentatively, intimately, and lyrically, before sweeping through widely varied soundscapes—ranging from dreamlike sonic worlds to violent outbursts and pulsating euphoria. A huge THANK YOU to John Kongsgaard—without his generous contribution, this concerto would not have come into being.” – Anders Hillborg

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 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.

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto is known for his artistic freedom and innovative approach to repertoire. Season 2025-2026 he joined as Principal Guest Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and principal guest conductor and artistic partner of the Helsinki Philharmonic. He is appointed chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 2028. Season 2025-2026, Kuusisto led three distinctive programmes with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with soloists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Ava Bahari, Andreas Brantelid and Katarina Barruk. He continued his work with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra presenting the renowned DSCH project, and took the stage as both conductor and soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic, including a tour across Germany and Austria. He guest conducted Oslo Philharmonic, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with New Zealand and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, and with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. As soloist, he appeared with the Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in a New Year’s programme with Joana Mallwitz. Kuusisto gets involved across the entire artistic spectrum. He has collaborated with musicians such as Hauschka & Kosminen, Dutch neurologist Erik Scherder, electro pioneer Brian Crabtree, jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen, juggler Jay Gilligan, accordionist Dermot Dunne and folk artist Sam Amidon. Composers who have written violin concertos for Kuusisto include Nico Muhly, Sebastian Fagerlund and Bryce Dessner. In 2026, Kuusisto, Sam Amidon and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra collaborated on the album Willows. The soundtrack of animated series Moominvalley composed by Kuusisto, Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saari was released in January 2025. Pekka Kuusisto plays an Antonio Stradivarius from 1695 on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.

Born in Stockholm, saxophonist Theo Hillborg has performed as a soloist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, having been the first saxophonist in history to reach the finals of the Swedish Soloist Prize. Theo is also greatly in demand as a chamber musician, performing internationally as a member of the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, one of Europe's leading ensembles for contemporary music. After winning first prize in Sweden's biggest chamber music competition 'Ung och Lovande', Theo embarked on a national tour of thirty recitals across the whole of Sweden together with duo partner and pianist Julia Isaksson. He is a recipient of the 'Anders Wall's Giresta Scholarship' and was recently elected 'Associate of the Royal Academy of Music' in London, having graduated there in 2019 with First Class Honours under the tutelage of Simon Haram.

Ida Moberg (1859-1947) Orchestral Suite: Sunrise 1. Sunrise 2. Prelude - activity 3. Evening 4. Stillness For Finnish composer Ida Moberg, composing meant searching for the ultimate truths of life. Her philosophical and esoteric compositions often express an individual’s spiritual quest and inner transformation. The Sunrise orchestral suite (1907) is also an inner journey, where searching motifs alternate with mystical visions and silences. The evocation of nature serves as metaphors for meditation and for communicating with the universe. The first movement (Sunrise) is built on a wide range, from the ripple of a few notes to a soaring chorale-like completion – like a great spiritual awakening. Then we are guided through the day’s tasks and activities, leading up to the evening’s rest. Moberg conducted the premiere of the work in Viborg in 1908. She began her career as a singer and piano teacher, and only later did she train as a composer and conductor. She was a pioneer in theosophical and anthroposophical circles in Finland and is now also a queer icon. Susanna Välimäki

Anders Hillborg, a constantly relevant figure on the music scene, is one of Sweden’s most internationally sought-after composers. Recent works include Piano Concerto No. 2, written for Emanuel Ax, and Hell Mountain—a tribute to Gustav Mahler—which premiered with Klaus Mäkelä and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2025. Alexander Kantorow gave the premiere of Hillborgs suite for solo piano in Lucerne in 2026. The Sax Concerto was commissioned by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and written for his son, Theo Hillborg. “It is a great privilege for both Theo and me that the world premiere of my saxophone concerto is being performed by the dream team of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Pekka Kuusisto. I have written pieces for Theo before, but this is the first large-scale work featuring a full orchestra. Theo plays all the saxophones; we considered including the tenor sax for a while, but ultimately decided to focus on the soprano sax—in my opinion, the most appealing instrument in the saxophone family. The saxophone begins tentatively, intimately, and lyrically, before sweeping through widely varied soundscapes—ranging from dreamlike sonic worlds to violent outbursts and pulsating euphoria. A huge THANK YOU to John Kongsgaard—without his generous contribution, this concerto would not have come into being.” – Anders Hillborg

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 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.

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto is known for his artistic freedom and innovative approach to repertoire. Season 2025-2026 he joined as Principal Guest Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and principal guest conductor and artistic partner of the Helsinki Philharmonic. He is appointed chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 2028. Season 2025-2026, Kuusisto led three distinctive programmes with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with soloists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Ava Bahari, Andreas Brantelid and Katarina Barruk. He continued his work with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra presenting the renowned DSCH project, and took the stage as both conductor and soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic, including a tour across Germany and Austria. He guest conducted Oslo Philharmonic, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with New Zealand and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, and with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. As soloist, he appeared with the Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in a New Year’s programme with Joana Mallwitz. Kuusisto gets involved across the entire artistic spectrum. He has collaborated with musicians such as Hauschka & Kosminen, Dutch neurologist Erik Scherder, electro pioneer Brian Crabtree, jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen, juggler Jay Gilligan, accordionist Dermot Dunne and folk artist Sam Amidon. Composers who have written violin concertos for Kuusisto include Nico Muhly, Sebastian Fagerlund and Bryce Dessner. In 2026, Kuusisto, Sam Amidon and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra collaborated on the album Willows. The soundtrack of animated series Moominvalley composed by Kuusisto, Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saari was released in January 2025. Pekka Kuusisto plays an Antonio Stradivarius from 1695 on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.

Born in Stockholm, saxophonist Theo Hillborg has performed as a soloist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, having been the first saxophonist in history to reach the finals of the Swedish Soloist Prize. Theo is also greatly in demand as a chamber musician, performing internationally as a member of the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, one of Europe's leading ensembles for contemporary music. After winning first prize in Sweden's biggest chamber music competition 'Ung och Lovande', Theo embarked on a national tour of thirty recitals across the whole of Sweden together with duo partner and pianist Julia Isaksson. He is a recipient of the 'Anders Wall's Giresta Scholarship' and was recently elected 'Associate of the Royal Academy of Music' in London, having graduated there in 2019 with First Class Honours under the tutelage of Simon Haram.

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.

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto is known for his artistic freedom and innovative approach to repertoire. Season 2025-2026 he joined as Principal Guest Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and principal guest conductor and artistic partner of the Helsinki Philharmonic. He is appointed chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 2028. Season 2025-2026, Kuusisto led three distinctive programmes with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with soloists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Ava Bahari, Andreas Brantelid and Katarina Barruk. He continued his work with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra presenting the renowned DSCH project, and took the stage as both conductor and soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic, including a tour across Germany and Austria. He guest conducted Oslo Philharmonic, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with New Zealand and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, and with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. As soloist, he appeared with the Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in a New Year’s programme with Joana Mallwitz. Kuusisto gets involved across the entire artistic spectrum. He has collaborated with musicians such as Hauschka & Kosminen, Dutch neurologist Erik Scherder, electro pioneer Brian Crabtree, jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen, juggler Jay Gilligan, accordionist Dermot Dunne and folk artist Sam Amidon. Composers who have written violin concertos for Kuusisto include Nico Muhly, Sebastian Fagerlund and Bryce Dessner. In 2026, Kuusisto, Sam Amidon and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra collaborated on the album Willows. The soundtrack of animated series Moominvalley composed by Kuusisto, Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saari was released in January 2025. Pekka Kuusisto plays an Antonio Stradivarius from 1695 on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.

This season Ida Falk Winland has made her role debut as Madame Butterfly at the Gothenburg Opera. She has also visited the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where she sang the role of Helene in Kasper Holten's production of Manfred Trojahn's Orest. The previous season, she appeared as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Gothenburg Opera and as Violetta in La Traviata at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Ida Falk Winland has been associated with the Gothenburg Opera since 2014. Here she has sung Gilda in Rigoletto, Mimì in La Bohème, Ilia in Idomeneo, Adalgisa in Norma, Morgana in Alcina, Cleopatra in Julius Caesar, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, The Countess and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Nedda in Pajazzo and Beate Bella Bravura in Julglitter och Operakaos. Ida Falk Winland has guested at the Glyndebourne Festival in the role of Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. She has also performed Così fan tutte at the Opéra National de Paris, The Magic Flute and Xerxes at the Royal Swedish Opera and Peter Grimes at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She has also appeared at the Helsinki Festival, Opéra National de Lorraine, Covent Garden and at the Internationale Händel–Festspiele in Göttingen. In 2018, Ida Falk Winland was winner of the Opera Prize for her performance as Adalgisa in the Gothenburg Opera's production of Norma, an award voted for by the readers of the magazine Opera. She is educated at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio in London.

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto is known for his artistic freedom and innovative approach to repertoire. Season 2025-2026 he joined as Principal Guest Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and principal guest conductor and artistic partner of the Helsinki Philharmonic. He is appointed chief conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 2028. Season 2025-2026, Kuusisto led three distinctive programmes with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra with soloists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Ava Bahari, Andreas Brantelid and Katarina Barruk. He continued his work with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra presenting the renowned DSCH project, and took the stage as both conductor and soloist with the Helsinki Philharmonic, including a tour across Germany and Austria. He guest conducted Oslo Philharmonic, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with New Zealand and Tasmanian symphony orchestras, and with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. As soloist, he appeared with the Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin in a New Year’s programme with Joana Mallwitz. Kuusisto gets involved across the entire artistic spectrum. He has collaborated with musicians such as Hauschka & Kosminen, Dutch neurologist Erik Scherder, electro pioneer Brian Crabtree, jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen, juggler Jay Gilligan, accordionist Dermot Dunne and folk artist Sam Amidon. Composers who have written violin concertos for Kuusisto include Nico Muhly, Sebastian Fagerlund and Bryce Dessner. In 2026, Kuusisto, Sam Amidon and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra collaborated on the album Willows. The soundtrack of animated series Moominvalley composed by Kuusisto, Samuli Kosminen and Jarmo Saari was released in January 2025. Pekka Kuusisto plays an Antonio Stradivarius from 1695 on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.

Born in Stockholm, saxophonist Theo Hillborg has performed as a soloist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, having been the first saxophonist in history to reach the finals of the Swedish Soloist Prize. Theo is also greatly in demand as a chamber musician, performing internationally as a member of the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, one of Europe's leading ensembles for contemporary music. After winning first prize in Sweden's biggest chamber music competition 'Ung och Lovande', Theo embarked on a national tour of thirty recitals across the whole of Sweden together with duo partner and pianist Julia Isaksson. He is a recipient of the 'Anders Wall's Giresta Scholarship' and was recently elected 'Associate of the Royal Academy of Music' in London, having graduated there in 2019 with First Class Honours under the tutelage of Simon Haram.

Born in Stockholm, saxophonist Theo Hillborg has performed as a soloist with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, having been the first saxophonist in history to reach the finals of the Swedish Soloist Prize. Theo is also greatly in demand as a chamber musician, performing internationally as a member of the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, one of Europe's leading ensembles for contemporary music. After winning first prize in Sweden's biggest chamber music competition 'Ung och Lovande', Theo embarked on a national tour of thirty recitals across the whole of Sweden together with duo partner and pianist Julia Isaksson. He is a recipient of the 'Anders Wall's Giresta Scholarship' and was recently elected 'Associate of the Royal Academy of Music' in London, having graduated there in 2019 with First Class Honours under the tutelage of Simon Haram.