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| People entering the Helsingborg concert hall last night, with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra already waiting on the scene. |
Hopefully more and more music lovers in the Øresund region will realize what a treasure they have in the superb Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, and their "home", the beautiful concert hall designed by Sven Markelius, one of the most important modernist Swedish architects.
Last night the HSO gave a delightful summer concert, with works covering four centuries, from Johann Pachelbel's (1653 - 1706) Canon to Andrea Tarrodis's (b. 1981) Camelopardalis.
One of the evening's highlights was Camille Saint-Saëns's Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for violin and orchestra. The soloist was the orchestra's new Alternating 1st Concertmaster, Gordan Trajković. And how he played! I have seldom heard the the solo part of this famous piece performed with such brilliant virtuosity and lightness. The HSO has to be congratulated for having succeeded in getting a top class international soloist join its ranks!
The evening ended with a commanding performance of Jean Sibelius's Finlandia, a work that never fails to stir deep emotions, if it is well performed, as it was last night. The Swedish conductor Thord Svedlund may not be a household name outside of his native country, but tonight's concert showed that he is a very fine musician.
Next season will be the last one for Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Andrew Manze, who has wonderfully refined the playing and the sound of the HSO, which now counts among the best smaller symphony orchestras in Europe. The young and talented Swedish conductor Stefan Solyom is to be Manze's successor.
Much to look forward to in the coming years!
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