Christian Karlsen and Swedish Chamber Orchestra - Hillborg: Vaporised Tivoli – Orchestral and Concertante Works I (2026) [Hi-Res]

Following his critically acclaimed recording of Galina Ustvolskaya's five symphonies, conductor Christian Karlsen and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra now tackle the orchestral and concertante works of Anders Hillborg, Sweden's most frequently performed living composer. The recording begins with the Piano Concerto No. 1, a hyperactive and virtuosic work full of filigree details, played here by one of the leading interpreters of the contemporary piano repertoire, Tamara Stefanovich. Also on the programme is the Cello Concerto, which is characterized by the intimacy of the score and a direct and minimized simplicity of expression, played by Nicolas Altstaedt - the dedicatee of the work and one of the most sought-after and versatile artists of the present day. Also on the programme: the "Kongsgaard Variations", a meditative composition based on the "Arietta" from Beethoven's Piano Sonata op. 111, and "Vaporized Tivoli", an intoxicating and hallucinatory evocation of a funfair.

Hillborg's music inspires musicians and music lovers around the world with its deep expressiveness, unbridled energy and love of the absurd and unexpected, and this recording is an excellent introduction to the fascinating world of this unique composer.