Clarinet Concerto No. 1

Swedish composer and violinist Emmy Lindström has become known for her emotional and poignant music, seasoned with humorous elements in a fine balance. With her base in the neo-romantic, she explores completely new sound worlds and moves freely between these different poles.

In her own words: “My music is emotional and relatively tonal with a predilection for lovely harmonies. But I am a postmodernist in the sense that I don’t get caught up in structures. I want to entice the listener to enter into a space of her/his own…. But I see a trend now that several musical stylistic tendencies can exist side by side, just as with people – you can look however you want and love whoever you want.” Pursuing double professional careers in music and nursing, she states, “After intense nursing work, I can often go straight to composing – the music just flows. My two professions enrich each other in an exciting way.”

The Hills of Hampstead Heath, an ancient park at one of the highest points in London, is the setting for an imaginative musical journey of discovery. In the musical landscape created by the clarinet and the orchestra, we experience both jazzy elements, klezmer calls, and wonderfully beautiful melodies.

Lindstrom says: “The clarinet concerto At the Hills of Hampstead Heath from 2017 was my breakthrough as an orchestral composer. It captures the melancholic wisdom and strength that pervades this mythical London park and heath that has captivated me forever. And it is frequently performed.”