Program

Rued Langgaard has composed a number of his best works with Swedish nature or experiences he had in Sweden in mind. And even though Sweden is Denmark’s neighbor, we know surprisingly little about their classical composers.

That’s why we focus on Swedish music, culture and composers Ture Rangström and Elfrida Andrée, who both deserve to be better known.

It is with great pleasure that we look forward to Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra playing at Rued Langgaard Festival 2026, in addition to an expanded Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester.

In addition to works by Ture Rangström and Elfrieda Andrée, we play a total of three Langgaard symphonies inspired by Sweden. Not least the hour-long masterpiece Symphony No. 1 Rock Pastorals, which depicts a hike on Kullen from the foam-spraying surf up to the summit, where there is a view of the dawn.

Ture Rangström (1884-1947), like Rued Langgaard, went his own way artistically in his homeland. His expressionistic German-inspired music earned him the nickname “Sturm-und-Drangström”. He was also deeply inspired by Swedish nature and other Swedish artists such as August Strindberg.

Elfrieda Andrée (1841-1929), like Langgaard, was both organist and composer. She was a pioneer when it came to female composers and had a particular fondness for her contemporary Selma Lagerlöf.

Among the chamber music, we are particularly looking forward to a concert with the Nightingale String Quartet. They will play two of Langgaard’s quartets associated with the Rosengården house in Kyrkhult in Blekinge. In addition, a new string quartet by Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen, who has been inspired by some of the themes that connect Dora From and Rued Langgaard, and which run like a common thread through Langgaard’s music.