The rock band The National visited Way out West in Gothenburg last summer. Now, in a way, they are back again. When the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra gives a concert on November 20, the music is actually composed by The National's guitarist Bryce Dessner. In addition to the band, he is also active as a classical composer.
The piece, a violin concerto, was inspired by a hiking trip along the Spanish Atlantic coast and was written specifically for the Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, who is also a personal friend of Bryce Dessner. Pekka Kuusisto will perform the piece in Gothenburg, under the direction of the British conductor Andrew Manze.