Staern: Worried Souls

The Swedish Society and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra present the first complete orchestral album of music by composer Benjamin Staern. This release features two works for large orchestra and his Clarinet Concerto, all inspired by social issues and environmental influences, as well as the challenges of human relationships and conflict, and offering a highly topical portrait of the world we live in. Staern’s music reflects global issues, such as images of conflict in Kosovo and the Congo—these themes fuel the urgent intensity of “The Threat of War.” His Clarinet Concerto “Worried Souls” channels the tense emotions of an industrial, dystopian society, inspired by classic works such as “Modern Times” and “1984.” Finally, Staern’s “Polar Vortex Symphony” explores global weather extremes in sound through vivid inner imagery, from frozen cities to intense polar vortices. The renowned Swedish clarinetist Karin Dornbusch, winner of the Swedish Soloist Prize, a celebrated figure in Swedish music and an internationally sought-after artist, joins the Gävle Symphony Orchestra to perform the virtuosic, multi-instrumental Clarinet Concerto. The Gävle Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Emil Eliasson, a popular guest conductor with major Nordic orchestras and prestigious opera houses; he is also the current music director of the Swedish Wind Ensemble.