Ung Nordisk Musik 2002, Reykjavík, Iceland.

Háskólabíó

Iceland Symphony Orchestra/Hermann Bäumer

[…] ”The orchestra did seem to like this powerful piece very much and the audience responded to that.” […]

Rikhardhur O. Pálssón, Morgunbladid, September 10th 2002

Artisten, Gothenburg

Symphony Orchestra of the Gothenburg School of Music/

Cecilia Rydinger Alin

[…] ”personal and engaging reflection, almost as an first-hand observation”. […]

Andreas Krizsan, Tritonus, 1/02, March 25th 2002

De Geer Hall, Norrköping

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Stefan Solyom

[…] ”The Threat of War is swiftly fluctuating, dynamic music – a work with an innovative tone language, but hardly provocative. The music has an organic, self-developing character that makes it palpable and gripping. The title of the work notwithstanding, it is not only about a destructive threat of war that is manifested in eruptive explosions and black melancholy. Perhaps these emotional fields of tension would not be so expressive if scope were not given to rather bright, tranquil sections with mild clusters and tendencies toward melodic structure. The composer creates variation in his means of expression by making use of glissandi, above all in the strings and the kettledrum with a pedal. The clattering col legno effects of the strings and the brass section’s sighing and toneless exhaling sounds signal extraordinary levels of feeling. Stefan Solyom and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra deserve our highest appreciation for ensemble playing packed with excitement and indelible rhythmic clarity.”

Reidar Sunnerstam, Norrköpings Tidningar, November 29th 2004

Symphony Orchestra at the Norrland Opera/Daniel Raiskin

Norrland Opera/Umeå

[…] ”The surprise of the evening was no doubt the young Swedish composer Benjamin Staern. Not since the mature Karl – Birger Blomdahl has a Swedish composer had such control over the craft of musical composition and such a thorough knowledge of the instruments.” […]

Carl Rehnberg, Västerbottens Folkblad, June 12th 2005

[…] ”A real contrast…the symphony orchestra performed with deafening precision and sharp-painted The Threat of War by Benjamin Staern (born 1978). Here was also eruptive cannonades, the encouraging rhythms and intensive play, much thanks to an excellent effort by the conductor Daniel Raiskin and the Symphony Orchestra at the Norrland Opera. ”[…]

Bengt Hultman, Västerbottenkuriren, June 11th 2005

Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie/Stefan Solyom

Görreshaus/Koblenz, Germany

[…] ”This is music that with dramatic stylistic means lets the threats of war get in under your skin. Drastic contrasts come one after the other, violent nose dives, shimmering upward passages, blaring trumpet signals, whining and string glissandi that produce the sound of falling bombs. A melodic, frail, budding plant of hope is buried under forceful wind instrument and percussion waves that break loose. An apocalyptic, but very skillfully composed, chaos that was given a disciplined performance with a high degree of concentration by the Rheinische Philharmonie under Solyom’s very self-assured and transparent leadership. ” […]

Lieselotte Sauer-Kaulbach, Rhein-Zeitung April 26th 2005

MDR Sinfonieorchester/Stefan Solyom

Gewandhaus/Leipzig, Germany

[…] ”Laut bis chaotisch kommt Staerns Komposition daher, die Instrumentengruppen kämpfen gegeneinander wie Kriegsgegner…doch unterliegen die Klangschicten einer dramaturgischen Ordnung, die durchdacht und reif herüberkommt. Kriegsberichterstattung in Fernsehen und Tageszeitungen inspirierte den Komponisten, ein Musikstück über die Schreckes des Krieges zu schreiben. Und auch ohne dies zu wissen, kann man in den flimmernden Streicherglissandi fallende Bomben hören und sich von den explosionsartige Klängen des Schlagwerks erschrecken lassen.” […]

Maren Winterfeld, Leipziger Volkszeitung April 17th 2007