Here you can find almost anything about all the concerts Gothenburg Symphony has played over the years, both in the Concert Hall and on tour.
Search for conductors, soloists and other artists that has played together with us. Or search for composers and music that we have played. And filter on specific seasons. Guesting orchestras and ensembles are also included in the archive.
The result is presented by season.
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.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in the years 2017-2025. Since 2021, he is Chief conductor of Philharmonia Orchestra and also honorary conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra back home in Finland.
He collaborates with top-level orchestras and soloists across Europe, including the Münchner Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He also works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
International soloists with whom Rouvali plays are Bruce Liu, Lisa Batiashvili, Seong-Jin Cho, Nicola Benedetti, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nemanja Radulovic, Stephen Hough, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolai Lugansky, Christian Tetzlaff, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Ava Bahari and Arabella Steinbacher.
During his long tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Rouvali performed over 100 concerts in the Great Hall and made over 30 recordings and live concerts for the digital concert hall GSOplay. His collaboration with the orchestra included successful tours in the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a six-volume Sibelius recording with the Alpha Classics label. The releases have been acclaimed with awards such as the Gramophone Editor's Choice award, Choc de Classica, the prestigious French Diapason d'Or 'Découverte', and the Radio Classiques 'TROPHÉE'. Santtu-Matias Rouvali also has an extensive record label with Philharmonia Records.
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.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in the years 2017-2025. Since 2021, he is Chief conductor of Philharmonia Orchestra and also honorary conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra back home in Finland.
He collaborates with top-level orchestras and soloists across Europe, including the Münchner Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He also works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
International soloists with whom Rouvali plays are Bruce Liu, Lisa Batiashvili, Seong-Jin Cho, Nicola Benedetti, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nemanja Radulovic, Stephen Hough, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolai Lugansky, Christian Tetzlaff, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Ava Bahari and Arabella Steinbacher.
During his long tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Rouvali performed over 100 concerts in the Great Hall and made over 30 recordings and live concerts for the digital concert hall GSOplay. His collaboration with the orchestra included successful tours in the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a six-volume Sibelius recording with the Alpha Classics label. The releases have been acclaimed with awards such as the Gramophone Editor's Choice award, Choc de Classica, the prestigious French Diapason d'Or 'Découverte', and the Radio Classiques 'TROPHÉE'. Santtu-Matias Rouvali also has an extensive record label with Philharmonia Records.
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.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in the years 2017-2025. Since 2021, he is Chief conductor of Philharmonia Orchestra and also honorary conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra back home in Finland.
He collaborates with top-level orchestras and soloists across Europe, including the Münchner Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He also works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
International soloists with whom Rouvali plays are Bruce Liu, Lisa Batiashvili, Seong-Jin Cho, Nicola Benedetti, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nemanja Radulovic, Stephen Hough, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolai Lugansky, Christian Tetzlaff, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Ava Bahari and Arabella Steinbacher.
During his long tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Rouvali performed over 100 concerts in the Great Hall and made over 30 recordings and live concerts for the digital concert hall GSOplay. His collaboration with the orchestra included successful tours in the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a six-volume Sibelius recording with the Alpha Classics label. The releases have been acclaimed with awards such as the Gramophone Editor's Choice award, Choc de Classica, the prestigious French Diapason d'Or 'Découverte', and the Radio Classiques 'TROPHÉE'. Santtu-Matias Rouvali also has an extensive record label with Philharmonia Records.
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.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in the years 2017-2025. Since 2021, he is Chief conductor of Philharmonia Orchestra and also honorary conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra back home in Finland.
He collaborates with top-level orchestras and soloists across Europe, including the Münchner Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He also works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
International soloists with whom Rouvali plays are Bruce Liu, Lisa Batiashvili, Seong-Jin Cho, Nicola Benedetti, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nemanja Radulovic, Stephen Hough, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolai Lugansky, Christian Tetzlaff, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Ava Bahari and Arabella Steinbacher.
During his long tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Rouvali performed over 100 concerts in the Great Hall and made over 30 recordings and live concerts for the digital concert hall GSOplay. His collaboration with the orchestra included successful tours in the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a six-volume Sibelius recording with the Alpha Classics label. The releases have been acclaimed with awards such as the Gramophone Editor's Choice award, Choc de Classica, the prestigious French Diapason d'Or 'Découverte', and the Radio Classiques 'TROPHÉE'. Santtu-Matias Rouvali also has an extensive record label with Philharmonia Records.
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.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in the years 2017-2025. Since 2021, he is Chief conductor of Philharmonia Orchestra and also honorary conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra back home in Finland.
He collaborates with top-level orchestras and soloists across Europe, including the Münchner Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He also works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
International soloists with whom Rouvali plays are Bruce Liu, Lisa Batiashvili, Seong-Jin Cho, Nicola Benedetti, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Nemanja Radulovic, Stephen Hough, Augustin Hadelich, Nikolai Lugansky, Christian Tetzlaff, Gil Shaham, Baiba Skride, Ava Bahari and Arabella Steinbacher.
During his long tenure with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Rouvali performed over 100 concerts in the Great Hall and made over 30 recordings and live concerts for the digital concert hall GSOplay. His collaboration with the orchestra included successful tours in the Nordic countries, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as a six-volume Sibelius recording with the Alpha Classics label. The releases have been acclaimed with awards such as the Gramophone Editor's Choice award, Choc de Classica, the prestigious French Diapason d'Or 'Découverte', and the Radio Classiques 'TROPHÉE'. Santtu-Matias Rouvali also has an extensive record label with Philharmonia Records.
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.
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.
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.
Kent Nagano is considered one of today’s outstanding conductors for both operatic and orchestral repertoire. He will be the next Chief conductor and Artistic Director of the Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España (OCNE) in Madrid starting in September 2026 and is the newly appointed Principal Artistic Partner of Filarmonica Toscanini. In addition, he is committed together with Jan Vogler as Artistic Director of the Ring project “The Wagner Cycles” of Dresdner Musikfestspiele with Dresdner Festspielorchester and Concerto Köln alongside Jan Vogler. He has been Honorary Conductor of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin since 2006, Concerto Köln since 2019, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 2021 and the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg since 2023 and is as patron of the Herrenchiemsee Festival.
As a much sought-after guest conductor, Kent Nagano regularly works with leading international orchestras worldwide, 2025-2026 season highlights included several projects with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Maggio Musicale, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Opera de Paris, and the Philharmonia Orchestra amongst others.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
2011-03-12 13:00 Stora salen
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
2011-03-10 09:30 Stora salen
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
2011-03-09 11:00 Stora salen
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
2011-03-09 09:30 Stora salen
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
2011-03-08 11:00 Stora salen
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro
The task of an overture is to create anticipation and excitement and to give a foreshadowing of the dramatic events of the opera. Mozart signals joy and comedy with the high tempo, but the dark tones also let us suspect that this is an opera with serious elements. The frame plot is one of the most common in Mozart's time: the struggle between the lord - the count - and the servant, where the latter ultimately draws the longest straw. When the overture's humming flight of bumblebees has come to an end, the curtain rises, and we meet the servant Figaro and his fiancée Susanna in the process of finding the best place for their new bed - they are getting married.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Violin Concerto E minor
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto non troppo. Allegro molto vivace
Felix Mendelssohn came from a German-Jewish family and as a composer strove to reconcile issues of spirituality and religious tolerance within society, and within himself. The Violin Concerto in E minor was written for the soloist Ferdinand David. However, the wait was six years before the premiere could take place in Leipzig on March 13, 1845 with David and the Gewandhaus Orchestra. New was the transition to the second movement without a break, as well as the fact that the soloist took up the opening theme, not the orchestra, and that a solo cadenza came already in the introduction - something that Sibelius and Tchaikovsky would also follow. The success was immediate. But in Nazi Germany, Mendelssohn's greatness was denied and his name was erased from public life.
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.
The violinist Ava Bahari was Artist in Residence at Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra for 2024-2026. She gave her first solo concert at age eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. In 2026, her first album with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra was released with a recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto (Alpha Classics).
In 2025/26, Bahari performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Joshua Weilerstein, Hindemith’s Violin Concerto, and Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello in Gothenburg. Elsewhere in 25/26, she made debut appearances with Orchestre de Paris, Hamburger Symphoniker, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and returned to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra for their season-closing concerts. With the Swedish Chamber Orchestra she gave the world premiere of Annamaria Kowalsky’s Violin Concerto, commissioned specifically for Bahari.
Ava Bahari is selected as an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/27, and she has received numerous awards, including top prizes at the Premio Paganini Competition in Genova (2021), Concours International Tibor Varga in Sion (2021) and Aurora Music Competition in Stockholm (2019). She studied Bachelor and Master at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Kolja Blacher and has also received music and culture scholarships from among others Sten A Olsson's Foundation for Research and Culture.
She plays a 1694 Stradivarius Ovcharov on generous loan from Anders Sveaas Almennyttige Fond.
Erik Risberg was employed as a pianist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2023, also performing on organ, harpsichord and other keyboard instruments. He regularly performed as a chamber musician, including in a piano duo with Bengt Forsberg. Erik Risberg has also been a valued teacher of musical performance at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama for many years and also gives introductions at the Symphony Orchestra's concerts.
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.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 4 Op 60
The Fourth Symphony is, as often said, situated between two symphonic giants. A reputation that has often led to its being overlooked, but in fact it follows a working method that is more the rule than the exception in Beethoven. The revolutionary works are often followed by music that seems to take care of what follows the storm. And this year, 1806 – we are in perhaps the most insanely productive of Beethoven’s life – is no exception.
The symphony begins with a tender entry followed by a plateau of unison Bb in strings and winds that is shadowily surrounded by slow melodic movements. The music grows suggestively from a melancholy to a euphoria – from minor to major – when the allegro breaks through in all its splendor.
After the first movement's alternating shift between intense outbursts and calm breaths, one of Beethoven's most lyrical adagios follows, where the repetitive rhythm (you hear it immediately in the verse) makes the movement dance forward stubbornly.
In the third and fourth movements, a scherzo and an allegro, the music rushes forward. For those who have already noticed how the form of the adagio rhythm is a variation of the first movement's syncopated outbursts, here, in the more dance-like parts of the symphony, you can notice how Beethoven turns the building blocks of the music inside and outside, but at the same time joins them together. In this way, he lets us anticipate the revolution that the symphony's form is facing. Fate will soon be knocking on the door.
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.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 4 Op 60
The Fourth Symphony is, as often said, situated between two symphonic giants. A reputation that has often led to its being overlooked, but in fact it follows a working method that is more the rule than the exception in Beethoven. The revolutionary works are often followed by music that seems to take care of what follows the storm. And this year, 1806 – we are in perhaps the most insanely productive of Beethoven’s life – is no exception.
The symphony begins with a tender entry followed by a plateau of unison Bb in strings and winds that is shadowily surrounded by slow melodic movements. The music grows suggestively from a melancholy to a euphoria – from minor to major – when the allegro breaks through in all its splendor.
After the first movement's alternating shift between intense outbursts and calm breaths, one of Beethoven's most lyrical adagios follows, where the repetitive rhythm (you hear it immediately in the verse) makes the movement dance forward stubbornly.
In the third and fourth movements, a scherzo and an allegro, the music rushes forward. For those who have already noticed how the form of the adagio rhythm is a variation of the first movement's syncopated outbursts, here, in the more dance-like parts of the symphony, you can notice how Beethoven turns the building blocks of the music inside and outside, but at the same time joins them together. In this way, he lets us anticipate the revolution that the symphony's form is facing. Fate will soon be knocking on the door.
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.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 4 Op 60
The Fourth Symphony is, as often said, situated between two symphonic giants. A reputation that has often led to its being overlooked, but in fact it follows a working method that is more the rule than the exception in Beethoven. The revolutionary works are often followed by music that seems to take care of what follows the storm. And this year, 1806 – we are in perhaps the most insanely productive of Beethoven’s life – is no exception.
The symphony begins with a tender entry followed by a plateau of unison Bb in strings and winds that is shadowily surrounded by slow melodic movements. The music grows suggestively from a melancholy to a euphoria – from minor to major – when the allegro breaks through in all its splendor.
After the first movement's alternating shift between intense outbursts and calm breaths, one of Beethoven's most lyrical adagios follows, where the repetitive rhythm (you hear it immediately in the verse) makes the movement dance forward stubbornly.
In the third and fourth movements, a scherzo and an allegro, the music rushes forward. For those who have already noticed how the form of the adagio rhythm is a variation of the first movement's syncopated outbursts, here, in the more dance-like parts of the symphony, you can notice how Beethoven turns the building blocks of the music inside and outside, but at the same time joins them together. In this way, he lets us anticipate the revolution that the symphony's form is facing. Fate will soon be knocking on the door.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
The rhapsody was a perfect tool for provincial exploration - genuine or newly composed folk songs were arranged and assembled into a kind of more elaborate suite. Not even the elegant Ravel, known for clarity and refined orchestral effects, could resist the temptation. His favourite Chabrier had already composed the successful rhapsody Espana in 1883, and he himself had been attracted by Spanish tones in Habanera (1895) for two pianos - which was orchestrated and incorporated into Rapsodie espagnole - and Alborada del gracioso (1905). So the foundation was already laid when he wrote his first major orchestral work Rapsodie espagnole in 1908.
The work flows with sensual orchestral sounds, enchanting natural impressions and fiery dances. "Night Prelude" is followed by a malaguena, a dance from Malaga, and the mentioned habanera, which takes its name from the capital of Cuba. Ravel's mastery in painting with the orchestra is particularly prominent in the concluding Feria, "festival". Here the melody part plays virtuoso between strings and winds while cellos, basses and bassoons run a relay race, all the while percussion with triangle, tambourine and castanets deliver their hits with powerful support from the brass. A more effective orchestral finale is hard to find.
The famous intermezzo comes from the mini-opera Cavalleria rusticana (previously called “På Sicilien” in Swedish). It is a jealousy drama that takes place in a small Sicilian village on Easter Sunday.
Pietro Mascagni won an opera competition with Cavalleria rusticana and it became his biggest hit. The rumor must have spread quickly, because the Swedish premiere was held at the Stockholm Opera the same year as the first performance, in December 1890.
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.
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.