Alfvén: Gustavus Adolphus, suite for orchestra

The Gothenburg Symphony had the honor to play a unique celebratory concert led by its honorary conductor Neeme Järvi in October 2024. The world’s biggest photography prize – the Hasselblad Award – was this year awarded to Ingrid Pollard and she was celebrated with jubilant music, kettle-drums and birdsong. 

For several decades, Hugo Alfvén was a recurring supplier of party and anniversary music. The suite was written to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the death of Gustav II Adolf with a play at the Royal Swedish Opera. The play fell into oblivion, but Alfvén’s music lived on. The movement Elegy has become one of Alfvén’s most beloved pieces.

Recorded in Gothenburg Concert Hall in October 2024.