World premiere of concerto by Sally Beamish to be live streamed from Sweden

Distans, a double concerto for violin and clarinet, will be performed by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Johannes Gustavsson with soloists Janine Jansen (violin) and Martin Fröst (clarinet), live from the Berwaldhallen at 6pm UK time. The work is part of a programme inspired by the Nordic region, including music by Grieg, Sibelius and Nielsen. 

Describing her new composition, Beamish said: ‘Written for Dutch and Swedish soloists and drawing on my own Scottish and Swedish connections, this work touches on the folk music of Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Scotland, going back to ancient times and the use of bells, bird bones and cow horns in mankind’s earliest music.

‘The piece was written during the lockdown of 2020 and explores the idea of connection and also of isolation. Two of my three Scottish children and my grandson live in Sweden and another son was still in Scotland as I wrote the piece. What began as an exploration of the music of three countries became an expression of longing at a time when many of us are separated from those we love.’  

The live stream is free and can be heard here.