For more than half a century, composer Klas Torstensson has lived in the Netherlands, yet his Swedish roots remain deeply embedded in his music. This year’s Tonsättarfestivalen, held from November 6–9, will pay tribute to both the raw power and tender lyricism that define his extensive body of work. The opening concert, performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, will feature the world premiere of a newly commissioned composition by Torstensson himself.
Born in Sweden and educated in Utrecht, Torstensson has built an international reputation as one of Scandinavia’s most distinctive contemporary composers. His career bridges the traditions of the North and the experimental pulse of continental Europe. The festival’s program reflects this duality, presenting works that showcase his fascination with sound, form, and narrative.
In an interview at his home in Haarlem, a charming Dutch city near Amsterdam, Torstensson spoke about the long creative journey that brought him here. “I’ve lived over fifty years in the Netherlands,” he said, “but the Swedish part of me is always present. You can hear it in the landscapes of my music.” His house, which he shares with soprano Charlotte Riedijk, doubles as a workspace, filled with sketches, scores, and memories of a career spent transforming sound into vivid architecture.
Torstensson composes entirely by hand—an increasingly rare practice in the digital age. “Paper, pen, and ear,” he says. “That’s how the music comes alive.” His latest work for the Philharmonic was created with that same tactile approach, evolving from intimate sketches into a large-scale orchestral landscape. The piece will serve as the festival’s ceremonial opening, marking both a homecoming and a renewal.
Riedijk, a frequent interpreter of her husband’s music, describes their artistic partnership as an ongoing dialogue. “We talk about everything—music, text, gesture,” she says. “His works often grow out of stories or characters that we discover together.” Their collaborations have included operas, song cycles, and dramatic oratorios, many inspired by Nordic themes and historic expeditions. One such example is Torstensson’s opera Expeditionen (1999), based on the ill-fated Andrée polar expedition, which explores human ambition and fragility against the vastness of nature.
Despite the weighty subjects, Torstensson’s music resists despair. “I don’t aim for tragedy,” he explains. “It’s more about transformation—the moment when silence turns into something alive.” His orchestral textures often shimmer with color, combining electronics, brass, and strings into vast soundscapes that evoke both the natural world and human emotion.
The festival will feature a wide range of his works, from early chamber pieces to monumental orchestral scores, performed by ensembles such as Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Norrbotten NEO, and KammarensembleN. A series of seminars and open rehearsals will allow audiences to glimpse his working methods and the close interaction between composer, conductor, and performer.
Riedijk will also perform during the festival, presenting vocal works written specifically for her voice. “Klas writes with a singer’s understanding,” she says. “He knows how the breath carries emotion.” Her performance will highlight the intimate side of Torstensson’s output—music that balances precision with vulnerability.
Looking back, Torstensson recalls the thrill of his first musical experiences in Sweden. “I remember playing in Gamlby Folkpark,” he says. “That was when I first realized that music could be my life.” From those early beginnings, his path led to the Netherlands, where he became part of a vibrant contemporary scene that valued experimentation and collaboration.
Now, as the Tonsättarfestivalen dedicates its 2025 edition to his life’s work, Torstensson remains characteristically modest. “It’s not about looking back,” he says. “It’s about listening forward—finding what’s next.”
Summery of an article by Tony Lundman; Read the full article in Swedish…
Tonsättarfestivalen: Klas Torstensson
📍 Stockholm Concert Hall
🗓 November 6–9, 2025
🎶 Featuring the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Norrbotten NEO, KammarensembleN, and Charlotte Riedijk.
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