Why Scandinavian music, Christina Åstrand?

Once again, Laura was able to meet a special artist from the upcoming concert. This time she was talking to Danish violinist Christina Åstrand about the Scandinavian music pieces of the concert and about finding her own identity within the music.

Christina, how come you are performing these music pieces at the concert?

In Denmark, we have a period called the Golden Age and there were so many composers interacting with each other and they had such a musical and artistic life. This created so much fantastic art and music, which is now in the royal library collecting dust. There, I found all these wonderful pieces, which are not Concertos but still for violin and orchestra.

Why are you so fascinated by this kind of music?

Well, it´s part of my own history. I mean, we are so interested in middle European art or American art, because we always have a look on the outside. But for me, it´s important to understand where I come from. And it´s so interesting to put things in context: why did the artists and composers do what they did that time and what made them do this? In the Golden Age the artists tried to be absolutely free in spirit and painted and composed by impression, it was not that constructed. Or at least that´s how I feel the music in a way.

And did you find an answer to the question “why did the composers do what they did”?

I think it´s about the spirit of the time: a romantic spirit. It´s not a hysterical romance but it´s still very expressive. And the pieces of this concert are kind of the last drops of romantism before everything changes into modernism.

Christina Åstrand at the Concert Hall.

Since you are performing four music pieces: how was it to get prepared?

They have a very good form, because it´s not like a big symphony or Concerto. In that sense it´s easier for the composer to make a fantastic piece, because you don´t have to drag everything out for many hours. You can have ideas, put them in and make them in a small form. In that case it´s easy for me to find the atmosphere.

So, the audience can be excited about the evening?

Of course! Well, I would say, a word that describes the music pieces the best is “pearls”. They are pearls that have a very special glow and each piece is unique. And thanks to the orchestra and the conductor Jukka Iisakkila, we can show these pearls.

Many thanks to Christina for this interview, her time and interesting answers. We wish you all the best!

Other interviews in the series with our intern Laura:
Christian Vásquez
Darren Acosta
Elim Chan