Tales of Darkness and Sorrow: Albert Schnelzer Brings Out the Darkness
“The horrors follow one another,” says Albert Schnelzer about his orchestral suite, inspired by the darkness of our most famous fairy tales. The Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra will premiere the work at the Helsingborg Piano Festival on August 20, 2025, under the direction of Magnus Larsson and with Beniko Almgren at the piano, which plays a central role.
The opening concert of this year's piano festival in Helsingborg Concert Hall pays tribute to Maurice Ravel, who was born 150 years ago. In Tales of Darkness and Sorrow, Albert Schnelzer has been inspired by Ravel's ballet music and his rhythmic playfulness, unpredictable harmonies and melodic fairy tale worlds in works such as Mother Goose's Tales ( Ma mère l'oye ), but has used scenes from his own favorite fairy tales. "Little Claus persuades Big Claus to drown himself in the river and Cinderella's sisters cut off both their heels and toes to fit into the shoes," says Albert Schnelzer. "Hopefully it will be a different concert experience."