Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony Perform Sibelius and Mozart
SAN FRANCISCO, California – Who knew that I’d have to fly 3,000 miles west to hear yet another extension of my Scandinavian musical saga? It’s not why I was there, but
Nielsen and Sibelius (Again) with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
I rarely, if ever, see the same concert program twice, but in this case, I simply had to make an exception. Two weeks after witnessing their epic Sibelius and Nielsen
Scandinavia 2015: Finnish Pelimanni Folk Music and Jazz in Helsinki
HELSINKI, Finland – In addition to all of the opera, recitals, ballets and symphonies I gorged on during my two weeks in Scandinavia, I did happen upon my fair share
Scandinavia 2015: Sibelius Academy Recital, Folke Gräsbeck, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musiikkitalo
HELSINKI, Finland – With the possible exception of Austin, TX, I don’t think I’ve even seen a more musical city than Helsinki, Finland. Everywhere you go, you see people carrying music cases:
Scandinavia 2015: Danish National Symphony Orchestra at the Koncerthuset
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - In addition to being the 150th anniversary of Sibelius' birth, 2015 is also the 150th anniversary of the birth of Denmark's best-known composer, Carl Nielsen. So, imagine my
Scandinavia 2015: Royal Danish Opera Academy Concert at the Royal Danish Theater
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – On the night I arrived in Copenhagen, the main event in town was the world premiere of the new opera sun goes up, sun goes down, commissioned from Danish composer Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
Scandinavia 2015: A Finnish Song Recital and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic at the Konserthuset
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Stockholm's Konserthuset, a striking neo-classical structure with art deco motifs, was built in 1926 facing the city's old hay market (Hötorget.) To most of the world, the Konserthuset is
Scandinavia 2015: Julia & Romeo and a Lunchtime Concert at the Royal Swedish Opera
STOCKHOLM, Sweden – After a few more days in Norway, a short flight brought me to the Swedish capital, which, even in the snow – or perhaps because of it
Scandinavia 2015: Peer Gynt at the Norwegian National Opera
OSLO, Norway - Thanks to a confluence of fortunate circumstances – primarily some aggressively low airfares – I had the chance to visit Scandinavia for the first time last month. Scandinavia? In