Göteborgs Konserthus Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra & Clara-Jumi Kang

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony No 1 "Titan" The first symphony was premiered in Budapest with the composer as conductor. The music attracted violent criticism, because this was something that was not expected. Mahler had made a name for himself as a brilliant opera conductor but as a composer he was virtually unknown, and now he came up with an ambitious, stylistically variegated and strangely personal symphony. Few works by Mahler have since undergone so many revisions - right up until 1898. When the first version was found in the 1960s, it was clear that the differences were large. The opening is compelling: it begins with an unforgettable feeling of space and stillness. Perhaps Mahler was thinking of when he was left alone in the forest by his father with the promise not to move until his father returned - and it took many hours. Gradually, thematic fragments emerge: horn calls, trumpet fanfares, birdsong. The second movement was first called "Full Sails" and reflects a longing for nature and lively, Austrian-inspired peasant dances. "Mourning march à la Callot" he called the third movement, and the etching intended by the artist shows the dead hunter being carried on a stretcher by the animals of the forest. It is a parodic picture and a highly parodic piece of music, which is based on the well-known children's song Frère Jacques in an ironic, grotesque and bitter minor version. In the trio part there is another quote from Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. The finale is the despair of a wounded heart. He borrowed the title of the movement from Dante: "From inferno to paradise". Music may seem to start in hell, and Mahler was probably a long way to paradise. But he didn't get there yet, he did so only in the second symphony - and it was started immediately after the first.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1902 and Stockholm Concert Hall has been the orchestra's home since 1926. Chief conductor since 2023 is award-winning American Ryan Bancroft. Among the guest conductors are greats such as Riccardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Herbert Blomstedt, Nathalie Stutzmann, Gianandrea Noseda and honorary conductors Sakari Oramo and Alan Gilbert. Sakari Oramo was the orchestra's chief conductor in the years 2008–2021. Together, over the years, they gained a lot of attention for both recordings and international tours. The German daily Die Welt described the Royal Philharmonic as "one of the world's best orchestras". The Royal Philharmonic has received a lot of attention for its recordings. Among these can be mentioned Carl Nielsen's six symphonies on three CDs (BIS), which were praised by critics worldwide and the CD with symphonies no. 1 and 3 was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award for best classical orchestral production. Two CDs with recordings of Anders Hillborg's music have both been awarded Grammis, and they have also released a CD with the American star soprano Renée Fleming. The recording of Nielsen's and Sibelius' violin concertos together with Johan Dalene was awarded a Grammis in 2023.

Ryan Bancroft is the Royal Philharmonic's Principal conductor since 2023. He grew up in Los Angeles and first came to international attention in 2018 when he won the prestigious Malko competition for young conductors. During 2024-2025, his second season with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he shows continued strong commitment to Swedish music as well - with, among other things, Wilhelm Stenhammar's Serenade and two Swedish premieres. Last season he premiered, among other things, a symphony by Daniel Börtz, and was responsible for the European premiere of Anders Hillborg's The MAX Concerto. Among the repertoire works he conducted can also be mentioned an unison acclaimed interpretation of Mahler's fifth symphony in autumn 2023 and next season he will take on, among other things, the huge third symphony by Mahler. In the spring of 2025, Ryan Bancroft and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra make their very first joint European tour and perform in Gothenburg, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Dortmund, Luxembourg and Vienna. He has worked with the distinguished Nieuw Ensemble in Amsterdam and the French Ensemble Intercontemporain, he has assisted Pierre Boulez in a performance of his Sur Incises in Los Angeles, and he has premiered works by Sofia Gubaidulina, John Cage, James Tenney and Anne LeBaron. He has also worked closely with improvisational musicians such as Wadada Leo Smith and Charlie Haden. Ryan Bancroft studied trumpet at the California Institute of the Arts and graduated in conducting from the Royal Conservatoire in Scotland and the prestigious Nationale Master Orkestdirectie in the Netherlands.