Welcome to XXII Stockholm Early Music Festival!
Dear music friends,
This year we meet again to celebrate the survival of soft values. Let us applaud once more the magical arrows of art - words, sounds, movements - the only human footprints that we, in our journey through time, may venture to call lasting. And early music is definitely both durable and sustainable - after all, it has been our companion for a thousand years! Not an ounce of electricity is necessary to let it sound, and brooks, birds, and green hills seem to hide behind Bach, Byrd, and Monteverdi.
After 20 years, EARLY MUSIC SWEDEN - National Stage for Early Music has finally found its home in the concert hall Musikaliska. At the same time, according to tradition, we offer a new festival edition in the wonderful early summer light of Stockholm's Old Town, this year with a focus on Spanish delicacies. After an exuberant baroque zarzuela with the spirited Los Elementos as the opening performance, the ensembles Cantoría and La Galanía will offer Iberian salads and popular dishes. Belgian B'Rock pursues Monteverdi on his journey to Flanders, and The Curious Bards promise a delightful display of Celtic baroque music. Brilliant mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg shines from her own Handel star, and we are treated to a world premiere when M. Praetorius' famous "Terpsichore" is staged with an innovative choreography. And, of course, we celebrate Sweden on its 500th birthday with grandiose sounds from the Vasa court as Canto Fiorito, Vilnius, collaborates with Swedish singers on the Swedish National Day.
It will never be too late for early music!
Peter Pontvik
Artistic Director SEMF
