Season Opener
Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Øyvind Torvund
Sergei Prokofiev

Torvund: Forest Morning

Øyvind Torvund (b. 1976) composed two symphonic poems for the Oslo Philharmonic in 2019. The first tone poem is titled Forest Morning and is an image of the great contrasts of our modern world. The opening expresses precisely a morning in the forest, awakening to birdsong. The peace and quiet is gradually broken up by the noise of traffic. In Forest Morning, Torvund explores the boundaries between traditional acoustic orchestral sonorities and electronic sounds.

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love dramas in world history and has served as inspiration for a host of composers. The story remains just as relevant today; passionate love, conflict, and stark divisions in society are themes that can all be linked to our own time.

Sergei Prokofiev's interpretation is personal and gives the classic drama a modern expression. Neither dance nor text is needed to feel the young infatuation that unfolds between Romeo and Juliet. At tonight's concert we will hear excerpts from the ballet, arranged by this evening's conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla.