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Premiere month – February 2005
Håkan Hardenberger * Camilla Tilling * Christian Lindberg/Bones Apart
Two of the world’s most famous brass virtuosi, trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger and
trombonist Christian Lindberg, plus distinctive young soprano Camilla Tilling feature in
From Sweden’s February calendar. The project continues to build momentum with the
first of the orchestral concerts and two more recitals in the Wigmore series.
Brilliant trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by John Storgårds on 18 February at the BBC Maida Vale studios in a
programme that showcases the cream of Sweden’s contemporary composers: Rolf
Martinsson’s* hugely popular trumpet concerto Bridge, composed for Hardenberger
and consistently played by him the world over since the premiere in 1999; Anders
Hillborg’s Liquid Marble, described by the Evening Standard as ‘music of the nuclear
age’ when it premiered in the UK at the Proms in 1997; and the UK premiere of Karin
Rehnqvist’s ** uplifting Light of Light which celebrates the brightness and hope of life
in three movements – shimmering bright, intensely dark and intensely bright. Originally
written for orchestra and children’s choir, it was dedicated to Anna Lind, Sweden’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs who was murdered in 2003 when Rehnqvist was working on
the piece.
One of Sweden’s most celebrated young sopranos, Camilla Tilling, features in a
lunchtime (1pm) concert at Wigmore Hall on 21 February accompanied by Julius
Drake. Following on from recent appearances at the Royal Opera House, Metropolitan
Opera, Aix-en-Provence, Salzburg and Glyndebourne Festivals, the Wigmore will
provide a more intimate setting for audiences to hear her singing songs by Purcell,
Stenhammar and Sibelius.
Wigmore Hall is again the venue for a world premiere of a new work by the remarkable
Swedish trombonist Christian Lindberg*** composed specially for the all-female
trombone quartet Bones Apart, the glamorous and talented young foursome that has
been hotfooting its way round the world to universal critical acclaim since 1999 when the
quartet was formed. Vivençias (Spanish for ‘Moments’) is a work in 3 movements
inspired by Lindberg’s professional and personal travels in Spain. Lindberg himself will
also perform in a programme which includes Luciano Berio’s Sequenza V for solo
trombone.
FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION : Debra Boraston DBPR ASSOCIATES
T. 00 44 (0)20 7483 1950 E. [email protected]
www.henrymoorestudio.co.uk/dbpr www.from-sweden.com
* Rolf Martinsson is currently working on his first cello concerto to be world premiered in April by Mats
Lidström for the From Sweden (BBC Maida Vale , BBC Symphony Orchestra/Mario Venzago, 20 April
7.30pm)
** Karin Rehnqvist is also composing another new work that will premiere as part of From Sweden in May
(London Sinfonietta and Sound Intermedia/ George Benjamin with pianist Anne Marie Abildskov and
soprano Valdine Anderson, QEH 23 May 7.45pm)
*** Christian Lindberg will play the world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Yet Another Set To with the
LondonPhilharmonic Orchestra/Marin Alsop at the Royal Festival Hall, 19 March 7.30pm
NOTES TO EDITORS
COMPOSERS FROM SWEDEN
Anders Hillborg – Liquid Marble
Born in Stockholm 1954, he gained his first musical experience singing in choirs and was also involved in various forms of
improvised music. From 1976 to 1982 he studied counterpoint, composition and electronic music at the Royal College of Music in
Stockholm, where his teachers included Gunnar Bucht, Lars-Erik Rosell, Arne Mellnäs and Pär Lindgren. Brian Ferneyhough, who
was a guest lecturer at the College of Music on several occasions, was also an important source of inspiration. Apart from occasional
teaching positions , Hillborg has been a full-time freelance composer since 1982. His sphere of activity is extensive, covering
orchestral, choral and chamber music as well as music for films and pop music. He has received several awards and distinctions,
including the Christ Johnson Music Prize in 1991 and a Grammy (the Swedish Gramophone Award) as Composer of the Year in 1995
for the record Jag vill se min älskade komma från det vilda (I want to see my beloved coming from the wild) which he co-produced
with the singer Eva Dahlgren. Celestial Mechanics for solo strings and Hillborg’s Violin Concerto were both chosen as recommended
works at UNESCO’s Composers Rostrum, in 1992 and 1995 respectively. In 2002 his orchestral work Dreaming River won the 1st
prize in this competition.
Rolf Martinsson – Bridge, a Trumpet Concerto
The Swedish composer Rolf Martinsson was born in 1956 and studied composition at the Academy of Music in Malmö with Brian
Ferneyhough, Sven-David Sandström, Hans Eklund Sven-Eric Johanson among others. He is currently professor of composition and
arrangement at the Academy of Music in Malmö and since has been Composer in Residence and Artistic Adviser for Contemporary Music at
the Malmö Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with many of the world’ leading orchestras, choirs, ensembles and musicians including the
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, and all of the major Swedish orchestras. To date, Martinsson has
written some 80 works for a wide instrumental range including orchestra and choir, a chamber ensembles, radio theatre, solo works etc
among them the Trumpet Concerto Bridge, A. S. in Memoriam for string orchestra and Dreams for orchestra
The Trumpet Concerto Bridge, premiered in Gothenburg in 1999 with Håkan Hardenberger and Neeme Järvi, has been performed all over the
world, including Berlin, Detroit, London, Madrid, Milwaukee, Birmingham, Bonn, Helsinki, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stockholm and Malmö.
Martinsson’s current projects include a Trombone Concerto for Christian Lindberg and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, a Cello Concerto for
Mats Lidström and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and in 2005 a Flute Concerto for Magnus Båge and the two opera orchestras in Umeå an
Karlstad, Sweden.
Karin Rehnqvist - Light of Light
Karin Rehnqvist was born in Stockholm in 1957 and qualified as music teacher in 1980 before commencing the composition course at the
Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where her teachers included Gunnar Bucht, Pär Lindgren and Brian Ferneyhough. She is unmistakably
an art music composer, although her music does not easily fit into categories or 'isms' but retains its distinctive character, unaffected by art
music issues. Folk music is an integral part of much of her composition work, for example her use of 'kulning'. This archaic song technique
produces a loud, high-pitched tone without vibrata which carries over a great distance and was used by herding girts to call the animals in
the mountain grazing pastures. Examples of kulning can be heard in Puksånger & lockrop (Timpanum Songs – Herding Calls, 1989) which
caused a considerable stir at the ISCM World Music Days in Stockholm in 1994, Rädda mig ur dyn (Rescue me from sinking in the mire,
1994) and Solsången (Sun Song, 1994). Karin Rehnqvist often thinks in vocal terms and her music is characterised by a kind of motivic and
rhythmic 'breathing'. This also applies to her instrumental works, as for example Kast (Sudden Changes, 1986 – 87) and, as the tille implies,
Lamento – Rytmen av en röst (Lamento – Vibrations of a voice, 1993). She was thrust in the limelight with one of her earliest works, Davids
nimm (1983), which also established longstanding collaborations with singers Lena Willemark and Susanne Rosenberg. A Member of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music since 1997, she has won many awards including the medal Literis et Artibus from the King of Sweden in
2003. She has held the position of composer in residence at Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra since 2000.
PERFORMERS FROM SWEDEN
Håkan Hardenberger (trumpet) was born in Malmö, Sweden in 1961. He began studying the trumpet at the age of eight with Bo
Nilsson in Malmö and continued his studies both at the Paris Conservatoire, with Pierre Thibaud, and in Los Angeles with Thomas
Stevens. His virtuosity was quickly recognised and today he is regarded as one of the most charismatic musicians of his generation.
He has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra,
London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Swedish Radio Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and NHK Symphony Orchestra Japan.
Conductors he has worked with include Paavo Berglund, Daniel Harding, Kurt Masur, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and
Michael Tilson Thomas. Many composers have been inspired to write for Håkan Hardenberger, including Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Hans
Werner Henze, Arvo Pärt, Mark Anthony Turnage, Sally Beamish and H K Gruber (the latter’s Aerial has been performed more than
20 times since its 1999 premiere). A champion of contemporary Swedish music, he regularly performs works written specially for
him by composers such as Rolf Martinsson, Daniel Börtz and Jan Sandström. In May 2004, he will play the première of Piers
Hellawell’s Double Concerto for Trumpet, Trombone and Orchestra with Christian Lindberg and the Philharmonia Orchestra under
Thierry Fischer. Håkan Hardenberger has made many recordings for Philips, EMI and BIS Records. His most recent releases for BIS
include a disc of Swedish trumpet concertos by Börtz, Sandström and Rabe and a disc featuring French music for trumpet and organ
with Simon Preston. In November 2002, BIS released his latest disc of works by Martinsson, Pärt and Tamberg with the Gothenburg
Symphony under Neeme Järvi. (www.kdschmid.de)
Christian Lindberg (composer and performer)
Not only one of the most remarkable performers of our time and a pioneer who established the trombone as a solo instrument with more
than 80 works created for him by practically every major composer of our time, Lindberg is also carving a successful career as conductor and
composer, working with international ensembles and artists at the highest level. When an international brass magazine made a ballot to
establish the most important brass musicians of the 20th century, Christian Lindberg was voted among the first five together with among
others Louis Armstrong, Miles Davies and Dizzie Gillespie. He plays with the world’s major orchestras and top conductors – LPO, London
Mozart Players, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Finnish Radio Orchestra are just some in the coming
season – and conducts with the likes of the Northern Sinfonia, Helsinki Philharmonic, and Sao Paolo Symphony. He is chief conductor and
musical director for the Swedish Wind Ensemble and the Nordic Chamber Orchestra of Sundsvall in Sweden. Lindberg´s own compositions for
the trombone, such as his trombone concerti Mandrake in the Corner and Arabenne, have been performed all over the world with great
success and he has recently been commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to write a Trumpet Concerto for Ole Edvard Antonsen
and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for three trombones and orchestra, all trombones being played by the unique Chicago trombonist
Charlie Vernon. Forthcoming premieres include Yet Another Set To, a new trombone concerto by the British composer Mark-Anthony
Turnage played with the LPO conducted by Marin Alsop in April as part of From Sweden, and a trombone concerto by the celebrated
Swedish composer Rolf Martinsson (whose cello concerto for Mats Lidström premieres the same month in the From Sweden series).
Lindberg has just celebrated his 20th season as a recording artist with BIS Records, for which he has recorded 64 CD:s. (www.tarrodi.se)
Bones Apart
Formed in 1999, the all-female trombone quartet Bones Apart has quickly established itself as one of the world's leading young chamber
ensembles and garnered a host of prestigious prizes and awards. As well as performing throughout the UK their performance and educational
work takes them all over the world, from New Orleans to Japan. Committed to raising the profile of the trombone and live music in the
community, the group has strong relationships with numerous schools across the UK and abroad, performing to thousands of children. They
have taken part in the BBC Music Live Festival and regularly perform for Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme. The diversity of their
concert programmes incorporates not only theatre and costume, but music of all styles and genres including baroque, classical, romantic,
latin, jazz, contemporary and popular as well as numerous commissioned works for trombone quartet by composers such as John Kenny,
Gary Carpenter and trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg. The members of the ensemble - Carol Jarvis, Becky Smith, Becca Harper and
Lorna McDonald - also perform as soloists and freelancers in the major orchestras and ensembles across the UK and Europe, including the
BBC Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra, European Union Youth Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Andy Prior Big Band, BBC Concert
Orchestra, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Roy Wood's Army, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Portugal’s Remix Ensemble, BBC Scottish Symphony
Orchestra, Opera North, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Scottish Opera and World Brass. They are Artists in Residence at the Royal
Northern College of Music in Manchester, England where they received a Distinction in their Professional Performance diploma and won the
coveted Philip Jones Award. Bones Apart plays C.G. Conn trombones exclusively. (www.bonesapart.com)
Camilla Tilling (soprano)
Born in Linkoping and trained at the University of Gothenburg and then at London’s Royal College of Music, she currently lives in Gothenburg
where she holds a contract with the Gothenburg Opera. Her versatility allows her to feel equally at home on the opera stage, concert
platform or in recital. Over the past seasons, Camilla has built up a varied concert repertoire including Mozart’s Requiem and Exsultate
Jubilate, Bach’s B-minor Mass and Matthew Passion, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Seasons, Handel’s Messiah and Saul, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater
as well as Ravel’s Sheherezade, Britten’s Les Illuminations and Beethoven’s Symphony No 9. Concert recitals have the BBC Proms with Sir
Andrew Davis, La Monnaie with Rene Jacobs, Stockholm’s Konserthuset with Manfred Honeck, Bologna’s Teatro Comunale with Paul
McCreesh, Los Angeles Walt Disney Hall with Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Vienna Festival with Semyon Bychkov, and to Munich’s Herkulessaal
and the Salzburg Festival with Riccardo Muti. This season’s concerts include Pergolesi Stabat Mater in Copenhagen, Mozart Requiem in
Toulouse, St Matthew Passion. Camilla Tilling features on three current recordings: Cherubini Mass in D minor with Riccardo Muti (EMI);
Mahler Symphony No 4 with the Philharmonia and Ben Zander (Telarc); Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Emanuelle Haïm (Virgin
Classics). Major opera engagements include Covent Garden (Sophie with Simone Young), the Aix-en-Provence Festival (Susanna with Marc
Minkowski), Glyndebourne Festival (Peter Grimes with Marc Wigglesworth), La Monnaie (Sophie with Antonio Pappano), the Met (Nanetta
with James Levine) and at Sweden’s famous Drottningholm Festival (Pamina with Arnold Oestman). Most recent opera productions include
Rosenkavalier and Pelleas et Melisande for the Gothenburg Opera, Pamina and Dorinda in Handel’s Orlando at Covent Garden with Philippe
Jordan and Harry Bickett respectively, Iole in Hercules at the Aix-en-Provence Festival with William Christie and Zerlina at the Met with Sir
Andrew Davis.