The Symphonic Touch of Benny Andersson Christian Svarfvar, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Anders Berglund

• Benny Andersson (b. 1946): Anthem:
• 1 Andersson: Anthem 03:41
• I let the music speak:
• 2 Andersson: I let the music speak 05:16
• I wonder:
• 3 Andersson: I wonder 04:43
• Money, Money, Money:
• 4 Andersson: Money, Money, Money 03:04
• Stockholm by night:
• 5 Andersson: Stockholm by night 03:55
• Someone else´s story:
• 6 Andersson: Someone else´s story 03:57
• Chess:
• 7 Andersson: Chess 04:20
• Ett herrans underverk:
• 8 Andersson: Ett herrans underverk 05:19
• Flickornas rum:
• 9 Andersson: Flickornas rum 03:32
• Intermezzo No I:
• 10 Andersson: Intermezzo No I 04:33
• Vilar glad. I din famn:
• 11 Andersson: Vilar glad. I din famn 04:42
• You and I:
• 12 Andersson: You and I 05:48
• Total Runtime 52:50

Info for The Symphonic Touch of Benny Andersson

Den meisten ist er vor allem durch die schwedische Supergruppe ABBA bekannt. Das London Philharmonic Orchestra mit dem schwedischen Geigensolisten Christian Svarfvar wird in diesem Frühjahr eine eigene Auswahl der beliebtesten Kompositionen von Benny Andersson veröffentlichen.

Die Auswahl des Sinfonieorchesters aus ABBA, BAO, dem Musical Chess und Kristina aus Duvemåla ist eine bahnbrechende internationale Initiative des schwedischen Arrangeurs und Dirigenten Anders Berglund. Dieses einzigartige Album mit Benny Anderssons Meisterwerken kann dem schwedischen Geigenvirtuosen Christian Svarfvar in Zukunft zum weltweiten Durchbruch verhelfen, sagt er.

Benny Andersson begann in den sechziger Jahren als Keyboarder und Komponist in einer schwedischen Rockband. Nachdem er 1966 Björn Ulvaeus kennengelernt hatte, entwickelte sich seine Musik im Rahmen ihrer kreativen Unternehmungen, und ein paar Jahre später wurde ABBA geboren. Mit Bennys Musik, Björns Texten und den Stimmen der Mädchen war der Erfolg unvergleichlich. Seitdem hat Benny seine Fähigkeiten als Komponist in Musicals, Film- und Theatermusik, Volksmusik usw. erforscht und weiterentwickelt.

Björn Ulvaeus war im Laufe der Jahre ein sehr wichtiger und unschätzbarer Partner, aber dieses Album konzentriert sich auf die von Benny komponierte Musik. Obwohl er keine musikalische Ausbildung hat und keine Noten liest, schreibt er wie ein klassischer Komponist. Das hat Anders Berglund zu diesen neuen Arrangements inspiriert, und mit dem wunderbaren Spiel des virtuosen Christian Svarfvar und des großartigen London Philharmonic Orchestra will dieses Album ein neues Licht auf die Musik von Benny Andersson werfen.

Christian Svarfvar, Violine
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Anders Berglund, Dirigent

Christian Svarfvar
is one of Scandinavia's most admired musicians with a succession of critically acclaimed performances and recordings. His creative and exciting attitude to concert programming, paired with the passion and energy he brings to musical interaction, marks Svarfvar as one of the most captivating voices of his generation. ​

Svarfvar was exposed to music from an early age since both of his parents were professional violinists. He began his violin studies with his father, Sven-Ole Svarfvar, former 1st concertmaster of the Norwegian Opera and Swedish Chamber Orchestra and, moreover a respected teacher. Svarfvar's talents developed rapidly, and he made his debut as a soloist in Mendelssohn violin concerto with the Swedish chamber orchestra at the age of twelve.

Svarfvar came to wide national attention when he was appointed "rising star" by the European Concert Hall Organization (ECHO). The nomination led to significant solo concerts in prestigious halls such as the Musikverein, Bozar, Cité de la musique, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, Birmingham Symphony, Tchaikovsky Hall, and Seoul Art Center. Subsequently, he made his New York recital debut with a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall in the series of Distinctive Debuts. ​

Today Svarfvar Svarfvar appears as a soloist with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Stockholm Sinfonietta, Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony, to name a few.

His playing is best defined as lyrical and fragrant, marked by a sensitive and silvery tone. ​

Apart from the established concert repertoire, Svarfvar also has extensive expertise in the contemporary music field, and his close collaboration with composers include such esteemed names as Howard Shore, Steve Reich, Kaija Saariaho, Anders Eliasson, Chaya Czernowin, Anders Hillborg, Bent Sorensen, and many others.

Christian has, for instance, premiered the three-time Oscar-awarded composer Howard Shores violin concerto: Eastern Promises, conducted by Howard Shore himself and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a recitalist, Svarfvar is a frequent performer at significant festivals in Scandinavia and performs as a soloist in the most prestigious halls such as Concertgebouw, Cité de la musique, Musikverein, Palais de beaux arts, Tchaikovsky Hall, Carnegie Hall, Birmingham Symphony, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, Gothenburg Concert Hall, Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, Stockholm Concert Hall, Stavanger Concert Hall, Megaron, Athen and Seoul Art Center. ​

Christian´s debut album, “Grieg Violin Sonatas,” was released on Sterling Records and was greatly praised by the international press.

Since then, Svarfvar has recorded several CDs for BIS Records, of which the latest recording, “Après un rêve” includes music by Fauré, Ravel, and Debussy together with pianist Roland Pöntinen.

The album was blessed by numerous international magazines. The Strad described it as “Breathtaking performances” and called it “An outstanding release. Dagens Nyheter, Swedens largest and most influential newspaper in Sweden named the album "recording of the year" (Årets bästa skiva) ​

In 2018 Christian released an album including the ever-loved Max Bruch´s first Violin Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Wilhelm Stenhammar´s two romances and violin sonata conclude the disc.

The album has been praised by several magazines, such as the Suëddeutsche Zeitung, which admired Christian´s elegance, honesty, and sensual tone.

The Gramophone wrote: "His tone gleams and the way he tugs yearningly on the leading tones draws one in. Svarfvar´s playing radiates tenderness." ​

Christian´s most recent release includes the J S Bach Violin Concertos recomposed by Johan Ullén - recorded in Abbey Road Studios with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The album, which immediately skyrocketed on Apple Music with more than a million streams within a month from release, has been hailed by many voices. For more info, visit https://www.infinitebach.com/

Conductors with whom Christian has worked include Vassily Sinaisky, Hannu Lintu, Lawrence Renes, Jorma Panula, Brett Dean, Douglas Boyd, Christopher Warren-Green, and Joana Carneiro, to name a few.

As a chamber musician, Svarfvar has performed and collaborated with such admired musicians as Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin, Clemens Hagen, Tabea Zimmerman, Martin Fröst, Frans Helmersson, Maxim Rysanov, and Boris Brovtsyn. ​

While continuing his recital performances and teaching, Christian stays committed to innovative ways of expanding classical music's social and cultural impact; Christian is actively working with various artists and organizations across a multitude of genres.

This album contains no booklet.