Symphony No. 1 – Albedo premiered by Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra on October 7

Published on
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Tobias Broström and his youngest son Alfred

A truly great symphony

Tobias Broström: Symphony No. 1 – Albedo

Broström’s music is distinctly vertical, as with late-romantics such as Bruckner and Sibelius. To be sure, it gushes forth as if it were flowing matter, but continues to carry a lead weight, a relentless struggle to rise from the depths to reach its peak. And thus it speaks to us through an exquisitely delicate pattern of short melodic motifs that break out of the broadly dazzling harmonies. Motifs that harbour something mobilising, an evocative pathos, that makes this work not only a magnificent experience of beauty, but also a truly great symphony.

Dagens Nyheter 08. 10. 22.

World premiere: Gothenburg SO/Santtu-Matias Rouvali, 7. 10. 2022 Gothenburg Sweden

Some excerpts from the premiere:

Symphony No. 1 – opening of the first movemen
Symphony No. 1 – ending of movement I
Symphony No. 1 – opening of movement II
Symphony No. 1 – scherzando movement II
Symphony No. 1 – opening of movement III
Symphony No. 1 – start of ending section movement III