Göteborgs Konserthus Hugo Alfvén 150 Years

This year it is 150 years since he was born. With his many arrangements of Swedish folk music, Hugo Alfvén is among the most widely performed and beloved of all Swedish composers. Alfvén’s music for piano and vocals is a treasure chest that this concert delves into.

When deriving inspiration from Swedish folk music, Alfvén and his fellow composers described the process as ”dressing up one’s poor cousin from the countryside”. This tone of superiority was indulged by the spirit of the times, and the music was appreciated. Alfvén himself complained somewhat at having to arrange folk songs in order to repair his ailing personal finances, when he could have been writing symphonies instead. However, his choral arrangements are musical gems which have now become part of the standard repertoire of most choirs. Alfvén lived in the Swedish county of Dalarna, where it is still possible to visit his home, Alfvéngården.

This concert features original compositions for piano and vocals, as well as music that has been transformed from choral pieces into solo vocals.

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Get to know Hugo Alfvén.