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Genre: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Stenhammar and Larsson Gothe

Torleif Thedéen is the soloist in Larsson Gothe’s Cello Concerto, and Johannes Gustavsson conducts a Swedish masterpiece – Stenhammar’s Second Symphony.

Composer Mats Larsson Gothe has had significant success in recent years, including with the opera Löftet ("The Promise") at the Royal Swedish Opera. Already in 2016, he was the focus of Konserthuset’s Composer Weekend Festival. Here, we hear the world premiere of a new cello concerto, featuring internationally renowned Torleif Thedéen as the cello soloist. "The cello concerto for Torleif captures everything that a cello can convey: longing, dreams, pain, and melancholy – but also anger and resignation. I have used the full range of expression", Mats Larsson Gothe explains.

The cello concerto is preceded by music by Elfrida Andrée, a Swedish pioneer around the turn of the last century and the first female cathedral organist. She followed in the footsteps of her teacher Ludvig Norman but was also strongly influenced by composers like Beethoven. Additionally, she was a conductor and herself led at least one famous performance of this majestic Concert Overture in D major.

After hearing Sibelius' second symphony, Stenhammar experienced an artistic crisis. He withdrew his first symphony and sought new paths. In the second symphony, he allows the Nordic elements to take more prominence: in several places, Swedish folk music shines through. Stenhammar's ambition to write "sober and honest music without superficiality" had succeeded.

The orchestra is led by Johannes Gustavsson, who has conducted many of the country's foremost orchestras – the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra most recently in spring 2023. He is the Chief Conductor of the Jönköping Sinfonietta and has previously been the Chief Conductor of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra in Finland and at Wermland Opera.

  • The music

  • Elfrida Andrée Concert Overture in D major
  • Mats Larsson Gothe Cello Concerto (Commissioned by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra – World Premiere)
  • Interview with Johannes Gustavsson and Torleif Thedéen
  • Wilhelm Stenhammar Symphony No. 2

  • Participants

  • Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Johannes Gustavsson conductor
  • Torleif Thedéen cello

About the video

  • Published online 9 May 2025.
  • Filmed 10 april 2025.
  • The video is approximately two hours.
  • Subtitles in English and Swedish is activated by using the CC control in the video player.

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Genre: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Stenhammar and Larsson Gothe

Torleif Thedéen is the soloist in Larsson Gothe’s Cello Concerto, and Johannes Gustavsson conducts a Swedish masterpiece – Stenhammar’s Second Symphony.

About the video

  • Published online 9 May 2025.
  • Filmed 10 april 2025.
  • The video is approximately two hours.
  • Subtitles in English and Swedish is activated by using the CC control in the video player.
Watch a trailer

Composer Mats Larsson Gothe has had significant success in recent years, including with the opera Löftet ("The Promise") at the Royal Swedish Opera. Already in 2016, he was the focus of Konserthuset’s Composer Weekend Festival. Here, we hear the world premiere of a new cello concerto, featuring internationally renowned Torleif Thedéen as the cello soloist. "The cello concerto for Torleif captures everything that a cello can convey: longing, dreams, pain, and melancholy – but also anger and resignation. I have used the full range of expression", Mats Larsson Gothe explains.

The cello concerto is preceded by music by Elfrida Andrée, a Swedish pioneer around the turn of the last century and the first female cathedral organist. She followed in the footsteps of her teacher Ludvig Norman but was also strongly influenced by composers like Beethoven. Additionally, she was a conductor and herself led at least one famous performance of this majestic Concert Overture in D major.

After hearing Sibelius' second symphony, Stenhammar experienced an artistic crisis. He withdrew his first symphony and sought new paths. In the second symphony, he allows the Nordic elements to take more prominence: in several places, Swedish folk music shines through. Stenhammar's ambition to write "sober and honest music without superficiality" had succeeded.

The orchestra is led by Johannes Gustavsson, who has conducted many of the country's foremost orchestras – the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra most recently in spring 2023. He is the Chief Conductor of the Jönköping Sinfonietta and has previously been the Chief Conductor of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra in Finland and at Wermland Opera.

  • The music

  • Elfrida Andrée Concert Overture in D major
  • Mats Larsson Gothe Cello Concerto (Commissioned by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra – World Premiere)
  • Interview with Johannes Gustavsson and Torleif Thedéen
  • Wilhelm Stenhammar Symphony No. 2

  • Participants

  • Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Johannes Gustavsson conductor
  • Torleif Thedéen cello

Watch in our app

The Konserthuset Play app makes it easier to experience music on your phone or tablet – or on a big screen! Read more

FAQ about Konserthuset Play

Our tips for how to best take advantage of our selection and how you watch our livestreams. To FAQ

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