"I dare say that Thursday evening was a musical sensation,” wrote Kulturen.nu. “We heard one of the world’s best musicians, German hornist Stefan Dohr, premiere a remarkable new concerto by Icelandic-German composer Steingrimur Rohloff. It is a masterpiece and will become a modern classic.”
The 33-minute work, described as a “tour de force of virtuosity” and “extraordinarily well-written,” was met with an enthusiastic reception from the audience. The review praised Rohloff’s blend of classical form, minimalism, and jazz/rock inspirations: “It’s one big, beautiful mix tossed into the air and skillfully caught by the composer.”
Another reviewer from Nordjyske hailed the concerto as “an orgy in orchestral sound structures,” where “Dohr’s solo voice constantly interacted with the orchestra, casting new light on each other in a magical interplay.” The Nordic landscape inspired the work’s textures: “The wind’s whisper in the brass between movements and the ocean’s wave motions, especially in the third movement, created a beautiful symphony of color.”
Both reviewers highlighted the outstanding collaboration between Dohr and conductor Joshua Weilerstein: “Dohr seemed instantly in love with the music, performing with equal parts enthusiasm and virtuosity,” and “Weilerstein managed to create cohesion and focus in this beautiful sound symphony.”
The world premiere was broadcast by DR and is available for streaming here.