My favourite piece
It has to be Tchaikovsky’s sixth symphony, Pathetique. It’s the melody of the double basses. We end by playing dying heartbeats. It has been speculated that Tchaikovsky was illustrating his own impending death. It always feels solemn to play it.
I feel respectful of the courage he shows. The courage to look death in the eye. It is perhaps something we lack in today’s society, to dare to think that the heart will one day stop beating.
The music and the time
The music connects the past with the present. Whoever wrote this was once human, just like you and me. When you play it, you become like friends in an intimate conversation. I feel a sense of belonging and comfort.
Music is like mindfulness for me. You forget yourself, are here and now, it is healing. There is another dimension with this affinity, that you get an insight into the composer’s emotional life.
In the best moments of a concert, I can relax and allow myself to feel connected with someone who opens up.
My instrument
Someone said that our instruments that we have inherited from others are like trains. You join a couple of stations, then you jump off. But the train must go on. It has many hundreds of years ahead.
My double bass is made of poplar, a brittle and light type of wood. I keep it clean and take care of the lacquer. Sometimes I have to leave it on gluing. It should be stored in even humidity. And rooms where people stay are best. I have it in my bedroom.
The double bass was built in Bologna in the 1720s. It belonged to a conductor and double bass player named Sergei Kusevitsky. He took the base filled with valuables with him when he escaped Russia after the revolution. It has survived two world wars. I remember that these old instruments were once the most valuable thing anyone owned. They made sure to save their instrument against all odds. I feel that we must show the same concern.
Trombonist Jens Kristian Søgaard
"I am very much looking forward to playing Richard Strauss' Alps Symphony. He writes so beautifully for the trombone, it is challenging and very expressive."
Violinist Nicola Boruvka
"My favourite piece is Tod und Verklärung by Richard Strauss. It's a mystery how he makes the orchestra sound the way it does. The overtones sparkle throughout the hall. You get caught up in the story."
Percussionist Martin Ödlund
"I'm looking forward to playing Beethoven's Seventh. It's a feast for a percussionist. Beethoven had his own way of writing for kettle-drums. He created a tradition, you play a lot strongly."
The earth - our legacy
Here you will find music about our common living environment and about the nature we all need to take care of. What impressions do you want to pass on?
Let the music move you
Through music we meet - across generations and beyond our own heartbeats. Here you will find concerts that resonates, wherever you are in life. What impressions do you need?
Power to change
The music can help us understand ourselves in the times we live in and provide inspiration to move forward. Here you will find music that makes a difference - big and small. What do you want to be inspired by?
Give your life concert magic!
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