Following his widely praised recording of Galina Ustvolskaya’s five symphonies, conductor Christian Karlsen returns with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra to explore the orchestral and concertante works of Anders Hillborg—one of Sweden’s most frequently performed contemporary composers.
The programme opens with the Piano Concerto No. 1, a restless and highly virtuosic work, rich in intricate detail. It is performed by Tamara Stefanovich, widely recognised for her insight into contemporary repertoire. The Cello Concerto follows, offering a striking contrast: more intimate in scale, with a direct and pared-down expressive language. The soloist here is Nicolas Altstaedt, the work’s dedicatee and a musician known for his versatility across styles and periods.
Completing the recording are the Kongsgaard Variations, a contemplative work inspired by the arietta from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 111, and Vaporised Tivoli, a vivid, almost hallucinatory evocation of the energy and chaos of an amusement park.
Hillborg’s music continues to resonate with audiences and performers alike—combining lyrical depth, rhythmic vitality, and a distinctive sense of the unexpected. This recording offers a compelling entry point into his sound world.
Available in high-resolution FLAC 24-bit / 96 kHz, the recording presents the full dynamic range and colour of these performances, from the most delicate textures to the most explosive moments.
