News
(See Calendar for all events)
2015
June 18.
Summer, sort of. Weather, hrmpf... But I'm looking forward to free time with family and friends.
Upcoming events:
-gigs in my new concert series at Art Museum Artipelag in Stockholm/Värmdö (www.artipelag.se)
-jazz concert on Capri
-chamber music on Gotland and in Uppland
-in August, Östergötland Music Days.
Check "Calendar" for more info.
June 12.
It's out!!!
New CD: Stockholm Chamber Jazz.
On Daphne Records.
April 30.
This spring has been and is still packed with events.
Concerts and conducting tasks, at the Royal College
and elsewhere. Last week, I conducted premieres of three new works with KammarensembleN, Ensemble NEO and the KMH Symphony Orchestra.
I just finished listening to takes for the new CD, Stockholm Chamber Jazz, which will appear shortly. A dream project, with Lennart Simonsson and Jan Adefelt. Label: Daphne
Repertoire? Some jazz standards, some Klezmer, some Folk, our versions of music by Bach and Fauré. Plus some of our own stuff.
Most important: Everything is formed by improvisation.
From the recording session. Photo: Carl Thorborg
2014
November 13.
Just finished two intensive days of recording with Lennart Simonsson and Jan Adefelt. My first complete jazz CD.
Such a pleasure. I will stay high on this jazz injection for weeks.
September...
Early autumn, perfect for a trip in and around Stockholm with my boat, a 1957 all oak snipa from the Swedish west coast.
August 16
This year's edition of Östergötland Music Days is over. Thanks to all artists and festival workers! I'm looking forward to next year.
Left: With basoonist Anders Engström after the Final Concert, with septets by Berwald and Beethoven.
Right: Jazz concert with Isabella Lundgren.
January 29.
I was honoured with the Royal Medal
Litteris et Artibus at the Royal Castle in Stockholm
The medal was given by the King himself,
HM Carl XVI Gustaf,
in the presence of HM Queen Silvia.
2013
December 5-6.
So nice to be back with the Bratislava Philharmonic. I'm very grateful to be invited to play the divine Mozart Concerto on the day of the master's death. Premiere of my little encore dedication Hommage 222 for solo clarinet.
...I love the Philharmonic Hall, and the city with its Christmas market and its CD and sheet music shops!
August-November.
Various chamber concerts and with my jazz buddies in Stockholm Jazz Trio (Janne Adefelt, Daniel Tilling, Jesper Kviberg) and Lennart Simonsson and Peter Getz.
We played at the Opera, in chamber music series and at the Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset).
September 29.
Conducting the S:t Thomas Symphony Orchestra in a quite demanding programme:
Mendelssohn: The Hebrides
Grieg: Piano Concerto
Dvorak: Symphony nr 8
Lots of fun working with this orchestra and piano soloist Daniel Beskow.
Aug 10-17.
Östergötland Music Days for the 13th year!
That damned rain on the first day... A cancelled opening concert is really bad, but the rest of the week was fantastic. Great to hear and play music by Composer-in-residence, Albert Schnelzer.
See also www.musikdagar.just.nu
July 24-31.
A sunny week at Capri, Italy.
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Vacation with my family, and a great concert with Love Derwinger, Tobias Ringborg, Erik Wahlgren, playing Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps. |
March 27.
Home again after concerts with the
Wiener Concert-Verein in Musikverein (March 21) and in Arona, Italy (March 23).
Programme:
Lars-Erik Larsson: Concertino
Ferruccio Busoni: Concertino.
I also had a Master-Class at Konservatorium Wien (March 19).
The best feeling... Right after the concert in Arona. |
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Listen on YouTube:![]()
Lars-Erik Larsson, Concertino (Live concert, Arona, Italy):
Late night dinner in Arona.
Februari 16.
Conducting the Royal College Serenade Ensemble. Music by R Strauss (Suite op 4) and J Francaix (Suite from "Les Malheurs de Sophie"). Substitution with one day's notice before the rehearsals.
Conducting the Royal College Serenade Ensemble. Music by R Strauss (Suite op 4) and J Francaix (Suite from "Les Malheurs de Sophie"). Substitution with one day's notice before the rehearsals.
January 31 - Februari 3.
Concerts in southern Sweden.
Chamber Jazz Without Borders
(Kammarjazz utan gränser).
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Staffan Mårtensson Jan Adefelt Lennart Simonsson - exploring improvisation in chamber music. |
Listen on YouTube:
Jazz: Stockholm Sweetnin': www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2zx3aAcFIk
Baroque: Henri Eccles, Sonata: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b8iLyiyT5E
Blues: Nostalghia in Times Square: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2hq5A_mu
Classical: Gabriel Fauré, Sicilienne: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPhoQ6cHUIE
Klezmer: Papirosn: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5zM685HXA
October 6, 2012.
After a cosy breakfast concert in Växjö Palladium with Per Tengstrand:
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October 2.
Two days ago, I performed the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, as soloist and conductor with Musica Vitae Chamber Orchestra in Växjö, Sweden.
Here's the Youtube clip:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mbIfvXAVrU
The concert was part of Per Tengstrand's fabulous festival "From Lakers to Ludwig". Please take a look on:
www.tengstrandfestival.com
Classical music and ice-hockey go great together...
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August 29. Back in Stockholm again after a summer vacation in Skåne and concerts in Sweden and France.
The next couple of weeks, I’ll spend time getting used to my new status as college student. Two days ago, I registered at the Stockholm College of Music, Orchestra Conducting Class.
But you will still hear me in the pit of the Stockholm Royal Opera. Many great operas coming up. Check www.operan.se
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August 11-18 were this year's dates for Östergötland Music Days, in and around Linköping, my home city. Click button on right to read more. Some of my guests were Ensemble LUX from Vienna, pianist Bengt Forsberg and actress Stina Ekblad.
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We explored some rare 100 years old music by Franz Schmidt and Walter Rabl, and new pieces by members of LUX, Julia Purgina, Roland Freisitzer and Thomas Wally.
Poetry by Tranströmer mixed with pieces by Schubert, Mozart, Haydn and the Reger Clarinet Quintet concluded the festival.
The Swedish Radio was there to record. Time for broadcasts to be announced. Website: www.musikdagar.just.nu
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August 4-5.
Lorem
”Concert Inoubliable (Unforgettable Concert)”
is the headline of the review of one my concerts near Bordeaux with the Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde on August 4-5. Read a translation under ”Press Reactions”.
I played the concertos by Mozart and Fernström, and had a lovely time in the heart of the best wine district in the world. Conductor Scott Sandmeier and I became very good friends and had lots of fun on and off stage.
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July 26-27.
Carlscrona Chamber Music Festival
It was great to play with pianist Lennart Simonsson and bassist Jan Adefelt in the opening concert (July 26).
Title of the concert: ”Chamber Jazz Without Borders.” Guest artist: Peter Jablonski on drums! See review under ”Press Reactions”.
I love this setting - improvisation in a jazz/classic idiom; sometimes quiet, sometimes hard-swinging. More jazz concerts to come, check ”Calendar”.
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Recital in the Marine Museum. |
I also played with the amazing Corean piano star Julius Kim (July 27). Our Schumann and Poulenc in the beautiful Marine Museum in Karlskrona will stay long in my memory.  After the concert, together with two great pianists; Julius Kim and Peter Jablonski. |
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July 5.
Last night's concert with Per Tengstrand at Nationalmuseum marks the end of my five-year period as Artistic Director, as this was the final Summer Night Concert for a while. The museum will close in February 2013 for renovation works lasting at least three years.
Thank you, all the artists of this and earlier summers! It's been five fantastic years. I hope that I can present a series of concerts in the meantime, hopefully in collaboration with Nationalmuseum in their temporary location. After that, hope that we'll be back with the Summer Night Concerts, but maybe not before 2016.
Be prepared! We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when - but we'll meet again.
As for right now, I'm going to Österlen, Skåne, Southern Sweden for some weeks of vacation. Next concert: Carlscrona Chamber Music Festival on July 26-27.
Jazz and classics.
Later on, I'm off for some concerts in the Bordeaux area again. This time I'll play the concertos by Mozart and Fernström with Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde, August 4 and 5.
... And then it's time for the Östergötland Music Days, August 11-18. See you there!
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May 3. I’m busy preparing for a concert on Sunday May 6. I’m conducting the wind players of the St Matteus Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm, St Matteus Church.
Program: Mozart: Serenade c minor, K 388, Gounod: Petite Symphonie, Schubert/Françaix: Three Marches and my arrangement of the Canzonetta by Pierné for clarinet solo and ten winds, in which I’m also playing the solo part. Great fun, welcome to the concert! (Matteuskyrkan, 6 pm, May 6.)
May 2. Tickets sales start for Summer Night Concerts at Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
Great artists: Miah Persson, Rigmor Gustavsson, Per Tengstrand, Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble.
www.nationalmuseum.se/concert
April 18. A jazz evening at Tyresö Jazz Club with singer Peter Getz, pianist Stefan Gustafson, bassist Jan Adefelt, drummer Jesper Kviberg. We went through Cherokee, Line for Lyons, There’ll Never Be…, Fly Me to the Moon and other great tunes. Peter’s unforgettable imitation of Joao Gilberto in S’Wonderful makes me smile still.
April 16. I just got the message from Royal College of Music in Stockholm that I passed the entrance exams for Orchestra Conducting. So, starting in September, I will be a student again at the modest age of 48. I’m so much looking forward to it. It feels like a very natural step after 25 years of experience as soloist, orchestra player, chamber musician, and artistic director of two major festivals.
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On April 4 I played the Mozart concerto with Wiener Concert-Verein, which is the fabulous chamber orchestra of Wiener Symphoniker. This was in Bordeaux in a fine hall, ”Le Pin Galant”, Bergerac. I really enjoyed meeting conductor Christoph Campestrini and these extremely good champer players.
The second half of the concert was only Viennese goodies by Lehar and Strauss. Such pleasure to hear Frühlingsstimmen and Wienerblut played by musicians who have it all in their blood.
Here's a clip from the concert: WCV_video
We got good reviews: Critique_Merignac_120405-2
(Click the ”Press Reactions” button on the right for translations.)
March 19-20. A really nice winter/spring trip to Trondheim and the Norwegian International Wind Festival. I went with my wind quintet, the Royal Wind Quintet Stockholm. We had two concerts, one of them shared with German Brass. Check out the homepage:Norwegian International Wind Festival
February 16. Stuttgart. Master-class at the Musikhochschule and a concert at the French Cultural Institute with the Kapralova String Quartet from Prague. We did the Mozart Quintet, the quartet played Suk, Ravel and Dvorak. Great playing from the four ladies.
February 1+3 Royal Opera, Stockholm. Lunch-time concert with pianist Johan
Ullén. Brahms: Sonata op 120:2, Ullén: Tango Doce. Just fun, no work – that’s my feeling when playing with Johan. And his tango is a real hit.
November 11.
On my way to the Opera... Winter sunset in Stockholm.
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October 11. Mardis Musicaux d’Angers, France. Travelling with The Royal Wind Quintet Stockholm is always a pleasure. This time we brought two stunning substitutes, Anders Engström, present Assistant Principal Basoonist of the Göteborg Symphony and soon-to-be Principal of the Royal Opera Orchestra of Stockholm, and Chris Parkes, newly appointed Principal Horn of the Stockholm Radio Symphony. We had many good laughs together (can’t tell you the jokes, sorry), and a great concert experience in the lovely Grand Theatre of Angers. Also present, brilliant as always, my colleagues from the Stockholm Opera: Peter Fridholm flute, and Fredrik Söhngen, oboe. Haydn, Grieg, Danzi, Larsson, Escaich, Ibert on the program.
August 29: Summer is coming to a close...... too short as always.
But I enjoyed four weeks of vacation in our summer house in Österlen, southern Sweden. Lazy days, very relaxing.
What happened before that?
Well, after finishing the National Museum Concerts in early July with a solo concert with Camerata de Lausanne and violinist Pierre Amoyal, we went together on a small concert tour to the festival Music at Lake Siljan and to the grandiose Örbyhus Castle, north of Uppsala. I've played with Pierre and the Camerata on numerous concerts in France and Switzerland. It was great to bring them to Sweden. A very happy and creative collaboration. I'm sure we'll meet again!
The concert at the National Museum was recorded by the Swedish Radio. I played the von Weber Ouintet, arranged for string orchestra.
See press reactions on the vertical menu.
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Since eleven years, my summers have been finishing with...
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...the Östergötland Music Days, this year on August 13-20. Lots of top-class concerts, check out the link.
Now, I had the immense pleasure of conducting the opening concert, with the Östgöta Symphonic Winds and Royal Court Singer Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, in my opinion the most beautiful baritone voice on earth.
I also had some hard-swinging jazz gigs with smooth singer Peter Getz and the fabulous trio Daniel Tilling/Jan Adefelt/Robert Ikiz. Some musicians! This is a dream come true, my clarinet seems to find its soul with these guys.
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In early September, I'll go to France for more jazz concerts. I call the project:
Jazz de chambre sans frontières - Chamber Jazz with no borders.
September 1, 20h: Swedish Church, Paris, 9 rue Médéric, 17e, Métro Courcelles
September 2, 20h: Buxy, Bourgogne,Festival Rencontres Musicales Annick Gautier, www.rencontres-musicales.fr
My playmates in France: Jan Adefelt, bass; Lennart Simonsson, piano
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Earlier this year:
May was a busy month. My main focus was a tour to Vienna . I performed three premieres in two concerts, plus classical chamber music:
May 11. Premiere of Alexander Wagendristel's concerto for bassett clarinet, ”Prayers To No One”, and of Roland Freisitzer's "Duo for basset clarinet and bass clarinet”. This concert was with Ensemble Reconsil in the Arnold Schönberg Center.
On May 13, I played with the Lux String Quartet in Baden bei Wien. On the programme: premiere of Thomas Heinisch's "Avarus” for Bassett clarinet, accordeon and string quartet, and the divine Mozart Clarinet Quintet, also performed on the bassett clarinet.
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Surrounded byViennese composers: Roland Freisitzer, Alexander Wagendristel, Thomas Heinisch.
On May 28, I was featured at a concert at the Royal Opera in Stockholm as the soloist in Bernhard Crusell’s concert aria ”From Ganges’ Beauteous Strands” together with soprano Susanna Stern.
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The last couple of years, I've indulged in jazz, my musical roots since the 1970’s. Performances in mid-April in two of Stockholm’s hottest jazz clubs, Glenn Miller Café and Club Jazzgrodan together with Peter Getz and others will be followed by many more.
May 30: Season Finals at Club Jazzgrodan. I found myself on stage with Peter Getz, Peter Asplund, Calle Bagge, Wojtek Goral, Tilling-Adefelt-Kviberg trio.
June 16: Jazz at the Royal Opera. "Staffan Mårtensson meets Trio Tilling-Adefelt-Ikiz". Jazz and drinks in the Golden Foyer.
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