From Habsburg to Somalia and back

The season opening offers a wide palette of musical experiences. As an appetizer, there is an energetic and dancing Viennese waltz Die Libelle signed Josef Strauss, the younger brother of the famous Johan the Younger.

The Austrian “dragonfly” later makes way for the evening’s main act – Tebogo Monnakgotla’s acclaimed violin concerto Globe Skimmer Surfing the Somali Jet, a 26-minute breathtaking piece of music in five short movements.

The soloist is Cecilia Zilliacus, a dear guest at the Norrland Opera and one of the country’s most renowned violinists, with deep ramifications in the Nordic repertoire, especially the Swedish one. Zillacus’ expressive and technically balanced playing style is put to good use in this dramatic violin concerto, which moves sensually between large, evocative sound mats and omitted, solitary violin performances.

The programme continues after the intermission with the well-known Symphony No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. This is also a work that alternates between extremes, but here rather between the grandiose and the romantically pouring. A perfect end to an evening in the sign of powerful sounds, all skilfully accompanied by Norrlandsoperan’s own Eduardo Strausser.