Hillborg: Vaporised Tivoli

Following his critically acclaimed recording of the five symphonies by Galina Ustvolskaya, conductor Christian Karlsen now joins the Swedish Chamber Orchestra to tackle the orchestral and concertante works of Anders Hillborg, Sweden’s most frequently performed living composer. The recording opens with Piano Concerto No. 1, a hyperactive and virtuosic work full of intricate detail, performed here by one of the leading interpreters of the contemporary piano repertoire, Tamara Stefanovich. Also on the program is the Cello Concerto, distinguished by the intimacy of its score and a direct, minimalist simplicity of expression, played by Nicolas Altstaedt—the work's dedicatee and one of the most sought-after and versatile artists of the present day. Also featured: the “Kongsgaard Variations,” a meditative composition based on the “Arietta” from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 111, and “Vaporised Tivoli,” a frenzied and hallucinatory evocation of a fairground. Hillborg’s music inspires musicians and music lovers around the world through its deep expressiveness, unbridled energy, and love for the absurd and unexpected, making this recording an excellent introduction to the fascinating world of this unique composer.