Open Mind, Op. 71 Orchestral Songs on Poems by Emily Dickinson, Op. 82a A. S. in Memoriam, Op. 50b Concerto for Orchestra, Op. 81
One of Sweden’s leading composers, Rolf Martinsson had an international breakthrough with the trumpet concerto Bridge, composed for Hakan Hardenberger who has also recorded it (BIS-1208). Martinsson has since gone on to compose soloisticworks for performers including Martin Fröst, Anne Sofievon Otter and Christian Lindberg, and enjoys a particularly close collaboration with the soprano Lisa Larsson. The two started working together in 2011, devising a soprano version of Orchestral Songs on Poems by Emily Dickinson, and Lisa Larsson has since performed Martinsson’s music at more than a hundred concerts to date.
A number of leading orchestras have commissioned works from Rolf Martinsson, including the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestrafor which he composed his Concerto for Orchestra. In descriptions of Martinsson’s music, words such as ‘lush’, ‘colourful’ and ‘cinematic’ are often used –qualities which have proved attractive to a large audience, as well as to a number of eminent conductors.SakariOramoand Andrew Manzeare among those who have championed works by Rolf Martinsson, in Sweden as well as internationally. Recording: May 2015 (Songs, Concerto); August 2017 (Open Mind, A. S. in Memoriam) at the Stockholm Concert Hall, Sweden