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Debutants and demons at this year's Baltic Sea Festival
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Debutants and demons at this year's Baltic Sea Festival

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Östersjöfestivalen music festival opens at Berwaldhallen on Friday, featuring a diverse program spanning nine days.
  • The festival includes the debut of a new chief conductor, premieres of new works, live podcasts, and a performance of Sibelius's 'Kullervo' based on Finnish myths.
  • The program explores the theme of 'roots,' encompassing origin, identity, and belonging, with events held at various locations in Stockholm.

Stockholm's Berwaldhallen is set to launch its annual Östersjöfestivalen music festival this Friday, presenting a packed nine-day program with 16 events. The festival promises a blend of established and new talent, including the installation of Radiosymfonikerna's new chief conductor, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and soprano Malin Byström's year as Artist-in-residence.

The program extends beyond Berwaldhallen, with events scheduled at venues like Fasching, the Nordic Museum, and the Finnish Institute. Violinist Daniel Lozakovich and musicians from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra are also set to perform. The festival's artistic direction aligns with the broader season's theme of 'roots,' exploring concepts of origin, identity, and belonging.

It feels very exciting! We have a substantial program over nine days with 16 program points. Not just at Berwaldhallen, but also at Fasching, the Nordic Museum, and the Finnish Institute.

— Staffan BeckerStaffan Becker, head of Berwaldhallen, expresses his anticipation for the festival.

Highlights include the Swedish premiere of Anders Hillborg's 'Hell mountain,' the world premiere of Molly Kien's 'A demon in disguise,' Alma Mahler's 'Fünf gesänge,' and Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' on the opening night. The festival will conclude with Erkki-Sven Tüür's new saxophone concerto and Sibelius's 'Kullervo,' a work drawing from Finnish mythology. The concluding concert will be led by conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Yes, we have a theme throughout the entire coming season that is based on roots. This is evident at the festival, including in 'The Rite of Spring' which concludes the opening concert. Then the entire festival concludes with Sibelius's 'Kullervo,' which is based on Finnish mythological tales.

— Staffan BeckerStaffan Becker explains the thematic connection of the festival program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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