Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Patricia Kopatchinskaja Igor Stravinsky
Øyvind Torvund
Sergei Prokofiev

When a composer steps out of their comfort zone, something truly special can emerge. Igor Stravinsky, who had revolutionised orchestral music with The Rite of Spring and The Firebird, faced a new challenge when he set out to write his first violin concerto. Where Stravinsky turned his gaze back to the masters of the Baroque for inspiration, Øyvind Torvund explores how acoustic and electronic sonorities can meet in the modern orchestra. And between them stands Prokofiev's interpretation of the world's most famous love story.

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.

Stravinsky: Violin Concerto

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) was uncertain whether he could manage to write a violin concerto – he was, after all, a pianist. But with financial backing, an eager publisher, and a close collaboration with the violinist Samuel Dushkin, he set to work. One of the concerto's most important musical ideas is the opening chord in the solo violin. It is played at the beginning of each of the concerto's four movements. The work takes us on an exciting musical journey. As Stravinsky himself put it, the opening chord is the traveller's passport.

The Violin Concerto was written in 1931, during a period when Stravinsky was inspired by composers such as W. A. Mozart and J. S. Bach. This is reflected in the concerto's chamber-musical texture and charm.

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.