At Théâtre du Grand Guignol in Paris in the late 19th century, innovative plays would shock the audience out of their daily routine. This is the inspiration behind "Grand Guignol", which Anna von Hausswolff and Mikael Karlsson have composed for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Radio Choir. The work will have its premiere on August 29 at the Baltic Sea Festival, under the direction of Israeli conductor Omer Meir Wellber.
The festival will otherwise begin on August 28, with Bruch and Brahms. The Grammy-winning conductor Alan Gilbert will lead the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, and the 22-year-old Spanish violinist Maria Dueñas will be the soloist.
Other international guests include, for example, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra from Vienna, which is considered one of the world's best youth orchestras. They will guest perform on August 30, together with French violinist Renaud Capuçon, and perform music by Korngold and Tchaikovsky.
This year's theme is waves, which, among other things, characterizes three newly written works by Ida Lundén, Åke Parmerud, and Kajsa Lindgren, which will be performed on August 29. The works are based on old radio broadcasts.
The Baltic Sea Festival, which is being held in Stockholm, will continue until September 7 – when the festival's co-founder Esa-Pekka Salonen will present a grand finale with soprano Asmik Grigorian.
Elin Swedenmark/TT
Facts: The Baltic Sea Festival in brief
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28/8
Opening with conductor Alan Gilbert leading the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, with violinist Maria Dueñas as soloist.
29/8
Mikael Karlsson and Anna von Hausswolff's newly written work Grand Guignol will be performed, under the direction of Israeli conductor Omer Meir Wellber.
30/8
The Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra will guest perform with French violinist Renaud Capuçon and music by Korngold and Tchaikovsky.
31/8
Family Day, where children can try out instruments with the Cultural School's orchestra school, meet Radioapan, and see a performance with music by Emmy Lindström.
3/9
The Polish star pianist Piotr Anderszewski will guest star at Berwaldhallen with, among other things, Bartók and Brahms.
4/9
In "Waves – arts lab", young composers and soloists will meet.
5/9
The Italian baroque ensemble La Fonte Musica will interpret Claudio Monteverdi's "Mariavesper".
6/9
The Radio Choir and their first guest conductor Krista Audere will perform the technologically innovative work "Calligrammes" by Carl Unander-Scharin, as well as music by Caroline Shaw, Jaako Mäntyjärvi, and Alvin Vikman.
7/9
Grand finale with the festival's co-founder, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, together with soprano Asmik Grigorian. It will be Streich's "Flügel", and "Vier letzte Lieder" by Strauss, as well as Bruckner's romantic fourth symphony.
