The annual Baltic Sea Festival invites celebrated orchestras, conductors and soloists to promote unity and ecological awareness among the countries around the Baltic Sea.

Esa-Pekka Salonen pays homage to his rich artistic legacy in Scandinavia by programming and collaborating with the region’s top artistic institutions. Since its inception, these have included, among others, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (where he made his conducting debut in 1979), the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (of which he was Chief Conductor from 1985-1995) and the Helsinki Festival (of which he was Artistic Director in 1995 and 1996).

Click here for more information on the festival and to book tickets.

24 August, 18.00      
Tristan and Isolde, Berwaldhallen
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde
Ben Heppner – Tristan
Violeta Urmana – Isolde
Matti Salminen – Marke
Michele de Young – Brangäne
Jukka Rasilainen – Kurwenal
Waltteri Torikka – Melot
Tuomas Katajala – Junger Seeman/Ein Hirte
Arttu Kataja – Ein Steuermann

25 August, 19.30       
Anniversary concert, Berwaldhallen
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Hillborg: Sirens        European Premiere
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Strauss: Salome: Dance of the seven veils
Strauss: Final Scene from "Salome"
Elin Rombo – soprano
Tuuli Lindeberg – mezzo soprano
Nina Stemme – soprano
         
26 August, 19.30       
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra & Ballet, Royal Opera
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Valery Gergiev
Shchedrin: The Little Humpbacked Horse
   
27 August, 19.30      
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra & Ballet, Royal Opera
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Valery Gergiev
Mariinsky Ballet
Shchedrin: The Little Humpbacked Horse

28 August, 19.30        
Baltic Composers Project, Berwaldhallen
Stockholm New Chamber Orchestra, Susanna Mälkki
Arnulf Herrmann: durchbrochene Arbeit    World premiere
Dmitri Kourliandski: Maps of non-existent cities. Stockholm.   World premiere
Perttu Haapanen: Mermaid Machines   World premiere

29 August, 19.30       
Daniel Harding, Berwaldhallen   
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Harding       
Verdi: La forza del destino
Verdi: Per me giunto… O Carlo ascolta
Britten: Billy’s farewell song from "Billy Budd"
Strauss: Thus spoke Zarathustra
           
30 August, 19.30       
Tomas Tranströmer, Berwaldhallen
Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir, Thomas Dausgaard
Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3
Andrea Tarrodi: Andrum Juli         World premiere
Wagner: „Träume“ from Wesendonck-Lieder
Schubert: Death and the Maiden
Michael Christie: Spår       World premiere
Brahms: from Five Songs, No. 1, 4 & 5
Brahms: Schicksalslied (Song of destiny)
Poems by Tomas Tranströmer
Nina Stemme – soprano
Krister Henriksson – recitation

31 August, 19.30       
Baltic Youth Philharmonic, Berwaldhallen
Baltic Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3
Martin Fröst – clarinet

1 September, 19.30       
Herbert Blomstedt, Berwaldhallen
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir, Gustaf Sjökvist’s Chamber Choir
Herbert Blomstedt
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Malin Christensson – soprano
Katarina Karneus – mezzo-soprano
Dominik Wortig – tenor
Georg Zeppenfeld – bass