Brev till mitt barn: Sånger byggda på judiska och persiska texter

Brev till mitt barn - Sånger byggda på judiska och persiska texter! Mezzo-soprano Annastina Malm, guitarist David Härenstam and a string ensemble perform Jewish, Persian and Spanish chamber music!

Benjamin Staern's work Brev till mitt barn, for string quartet and voice, is based on Ilse Weber's poignant poems written in Theresienstadt concentration camp.

The music's five movements range from fragility to drama, weaving together klezmer and classical modernism.

The work depicts Weber's tragic fate, shifting intensely between despair, longing and tenderness.

The concert also features two world premieres: *Benjamin Staern: A new work based on Persian texts translated into Swedish. *Dan Theorin: The piece A busstop in Vasco da Gama for string quartet and guitar draws on Indian folk music.

The music reflects on Gaspar da Gama, a Jewish interpreter and explorer who was forced to convert to Christianity under persecution.

He was invaluable to the Portuguese voyages of discovery, an adviser to the King of Portugal and an important intermediary between Portugal and Asia, but is now largely forgotten.

You will also hear music by the wonderful composer Erwin Schulhoff.

It was more than 50 years after his death in Wülzburg concentration camp before the Czech composer began to receive the recognition he deserved.

He was one of many composers whose works were labelled Entartete Musik by the Nazi regime, and he was effectively silenced by the harsh political and social mechanisms of fascism.

Today he is known as a composer of remarkable range and inventiveness, whose works span the aesthetic void between the late Romanticism of Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy. -- You will also hear other composers who speak to their children in various ways through music, through poems and lullabies, such as Spain's Manuel de Falla and Hungary's Joseph Joachim (1831-1907).

This evening's fantastic string quartet, led by violist Kim Hellgren, comprises four of Sweden's very finest chamber musicians! -- CV Annastina Malm, mezzo-soprano, is this evening's fantastic singer!

She has performed at leading venues and festivals across Europe, including Drottningholms slottsteater, Händel-Festspiele Halle, Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Herbstgold Festival in Eisenstadt and Festival d'Ambronay, and has collaborated with ensembles such as L'Orfeo Barockorchester, Norrbotten NEO and Les Frivolités Parisiennes.

In 2025, Annastina attracted attention when she stepped in as Emira in Handel's Siroe, re di Persia at Händel Festspiele Karlsruhe with Deutsche Händel-Solisten under the direction of Attilio Cremonesi.

She has also appeared on a number of recordings and in the French-Swiss feature film Noces about Igor Stravinsky.

Annastina also has a strong interest in contemporary music and has created several roles in world premieres on Swedish and European stages.

Annastina made her directorial debut at Vadstena-Akademien with Les Grandes Nuits.

In 2021, she was commissioned to direct the opera Mitt lyckliga liv by Rose Lagercrantz and Stefan Klaverdal in connection with Svenska institutet's fiftieth anniversary.

She regularly performs as a chamber musician in various ensembles.

Annastina studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, as well as at Sorbonne-Nouvelle and Stockholms universitet.

Benjamin Staern (b. 1978) is widely regarded as one of the leading Scandinavian composers of his generation.

His music is characterised by a strongly individual musical language shaped by synaesthesia -- his neurological ability to associate sounds with colours.

His opera The Snow Queen received great critical acclaim at Malmö Opera in 2016 and has since been staged in Germany and at Royal Swedish Opera.

His other stage works include Hilma, which was later performed at Guggenheim Museum in New York.

His music has been performed by major Swedish and international orchestras, including MDR Sinfonieorchester, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

During 2024--2026, he is artistic partner to Västerås Sinfonietta, with world premieres such as Dancing Fairies (a flute concerto) for Laura Michelin (who played at Riddarhuset last year)!

David Härenstam, classical guitar, has toured China, Australia and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician after completing an Advanced Diploma under Professor John Mills at Royal Welsh College of Music.

He is known for his many successful recordings, which have prompted critics to write "one of the leading guitarists of his generation", or, as Classical Guitar Magazine (USA) puts it: "Technical wizardry".

David is also artistic director of three chamber music festivals.

On stage: Karin Hellqvist, violin Bartosz Cajler, violin Kim Hellgren, viola Kevin Kirs Verstege, cello _ Annastina Malm, mezzo-soprano David Härenstam, guitar ---------- Accessibility: Riddarhuset is a wonderful historic building, but accessibility is limited.

The large stone staircase can be difficult to negotiate, but there is a smaller staircase via the stage entrance that makes access easier.

Visitors with particular access needs can contact us in advance at [email protected] However, the concerts held in Sevenbomsalen Stadsmuseet during winter and spring are fully accessible to people using wheelchairs or walking frames.

The building has lift access throughout, accessible toilets and contrast markings.

Wheelchair users can reach different floors using lifts and ramps.

Times: Doors open: 18:00 Start: 19:00 Running time: 40 + 30 minutes + interval