From Strauss and Sibelius to the Boulanger Sisters with Johanna Wallroth

Glass Hall Theatre in Tivoli / approx. 75 min / 195-295 kr

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Enjoy a remarkable evening with the gifted Swedish soprano Johanna Wallroth as she guides us through a musical voyage, spanning from the compositions of Strauss and Sibelius to the evocative works of several female composers who have recently garnered recognition in concert halls. These include the Boulanger sisters, Nadia and Lili, along with the Spanish composer Pauline Viardot. Johanna Wallroth will be joined by the renowned pianist Malcolm Martineau, marking his fifth consecutive appearance at the festival.

Johanna Wallroth began as a child ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm but shifted her focus to singing. We can only rejoice at this change, for today, with her sparkling, clear voice, she is an undeniable soprano star. Part of her education took place in Vienna, which has provided a solid foundation for her career that now spans all of Europe. Dancing has now become a leisure activity, yet Johanna Wallroth reveals she practices the innovative choreography of Isadora Duncan at home. 

For the concert, she has curated a captivating selection of songs to perform with the distinguished opera accompanist, Malcolm Martineau. The program begins with compositions by the French sisters Nadia and Lili Boulanger, whose songs radiate with French finesse and esprit. Lili Boulanger, who passed away prematurely from tuberculosis, left behind a poignant song from a cycle that poetically narrates the lives of women, intertwined with love and sorrow. In contrast, Nadia Boulanger enjoyed a lengthy career as a composer, conductor, and revered teacher to many contemporaneous composers. The songs chosen for this performance, akin to Lili's work, are exquisite pieces brimming with intricate details. Pauline Viardot was a Spanish opera singer with a major career on the opera stages in the mid-19th century. In parallel, she composed operettas, piano music, and songs, including songs inspired by Chopin's piano music. 

In addition to the songs by these three women, Johanna Wallroth brings familiar lieder by both Sibelius and Richard Strauss.

The concert is staged in association with the Copenhagen Opera Festival and is a part of the Stellar Moments Festival in Tivoli.