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Rosengren in the Midwest Premiere of the Ticheli Concerto
October 2, 2011
Rosengren presented a lively performance of Ticheli’s Concerto in a delightful collaboration with the Iowa State Wind Ensemble and Dr. Michael Golemo, Director of Bands. The performance, which was broadcasted live, received enthusiastic response from the large and youthful audience. The Ticheli Concerto was followed by a virtuoso encore: Auguste DeBoeck’s Impromptu for clarinet and piano in an arrangement for wind ensemble from 1998, created for Rosengren by Dr. Golemo. Rosengren also worked with the Iowa State University Professor Gregory Oakes’ clarinet class, giving a master class with three talented students: Tyler Mootz, Alice Hinshaw, and Erin Radach. |
Electrifying Performance of the Ticheli Clarinet Concerto at the Los Angeles International Clarinet Convention
August 16, 2011
Håkan Rosengren, with Frank Ticheli as conductor, received standing ovations for the virtuoso performance of Ticheli’s new Clarinet Concerto at the Los Angeles International Clarinet Convention, August 5-7. The Concerto had been commissioned by, and written for, Rosengren and premiered in 2010. Rosengren, one of the featured artists at the Clarinet Convention, performed what was called a hightlight of the Clarinet Convention. |
Fifteenth Consecutive Summer for Rosengren at Festival Hill in Round Top
July 21, 2011
In another memorable year at the magical International Festival Institute in Round Top, Texas, Rosengren performed chamber music by Hindemith, Jolivet, Stravinsky, and Dvorak, collaborating with Kenneth Goldschmidt, Ransom Wilson, Becky Henderson, Stephen Balderston, Michelle Baker, Kristen Wolfe Jensen and others. Rosengren also worked with four extraordinary clarinet students: Sam Ross, Stefan van Sant, Drew Sullivan and Thomas Wissner. |
“Marvelous” Collaboration with the Salastina Concert Association in Los Angeles
June 19, 2011
“Rosengren played marvelously,” noted one critic, during Rosengren’s performance in the Salastina Concert Assocation, headed by violinists Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper and their wonderful cast of musicians from Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. An electic and attractive program with music by Bartok, Ravel, Cavaterra, and Marquez was presented three times in Southern California: at Huntington Gardens, Scripps College, and Colburn School. |
Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival Celebrates its Fifth Year with Outstanding Performances
May 29, 2011
In May 2011, the Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival, led by Artistic Director Håkan Rosengren, assembled a cast of superb musicians from Germany, Hungary, Poland, Canada, and the US. The American Record Guide was present and wrote: “Rosengren emerged from the ether, shaping lines with breathtaking nuance and lyricism,” “Beethoven‘s Archduke Trio never sounded better!”, and “The festival ended with a superb performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet.” |
“Superb Chamber Music” and “Musical Depth ad Convincing Expression” from a “Super-Trio”
April 25, 2011
The Trio Rosengren-Bauer-Nagy on tour in Sweden proved to be a stunning experience for audiences and critics alike. Håkan Rosengren, with Hungarian pianist Péter Nagy and Polish cellist Andrzej Bauer, presented three weeks of masterful performances of trios by Brahms and Beethoven plus Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces. The performances were consistently met by standing ovations and rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The critic for the Södermanlands Nyheter stated “Oh my God, last night was truly remarkable; I had very high expectations for this concert, but these musicians performed with the kind of quality that exceeded anything in today’s music world.” Hallands Nyheter wrote: “This was a concert of superb chamber music on highest level” and Sydsvenska Dagbladet added that “The performance revealed an interpretation of musical depth and convincing expression; a full sound and maturity with seriousness and weight.” During the tour Rosengren also presented master classes to highly appreciative audiences at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Ingesund Conservatory of Music. |
Recital at Meng Hall, Fullerton (Los Angeles) with Mikhail Korzhev
March 2, 2011
Håkan Rosengren and Russian pianist Mikhail Korzhev presented an outstanding recital with music by Messager, Stravinsky, Lutoslawski, Debussy, Berg, and Brahms. |
Rosengren in Recital in New York City at "Chamber Music in the Heights"
February 23, 2011
A much-anticipated program with Schumann's Fantasy Pieces, Tovey's Trio and Bartok's Contrasts, presented Håkan Rosengren in collaboration with Russian pianist Irina Nuzova, American violinist Monica Bauchwitz, and Norwegian hornist Karl Kramer. |
Recital and Masterclass at Baylor University, Texas
February 12, 2011
Rosengren presented a beautiful recital and a well-appreciated masterclass at Baylor University. |
Performance of Brahms' and Weber's Clarinet Quintets at the
Wilhelm Neese House, Texas
January 31, 2011
The historic ballroom in the 19th-century Wilhelm Neese House in Warrenton, Texas, was completely full for Rosengren's performance of the Quintets for Clarinet and Strings by Johannes Brahms and Carl Maria von Weber featuring Rosengren and the Aeolus Quartet from University of Texas at Austin. The audience quickly rose from their seats in appreciation. |
Rosengren in superb collaboration with Schumann and Kamins
Decembre 16, 2010
A magnificent performance of Glinka's Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano made this Romantic work glow like a tiara. Clarinetist Håkan Rosengren, together with pianist Michelle Schumann and bassoonist Benjamin Kamins, performed the work as part of the Prelude Concert Series, in the Moravian Room in Fayetteville and at Briarfield in Round Top. |
Rosengren and Nagy—A Magical Collaboration
November 15, 2010
The duo Rosengren-Nagy performed on the concert stage again, with performances in California at Meng Hall in Fullerton (Los Angeles) and in Texas at Bar None Ranch in Round Top (Fayette County). The audiences were treated to music by Schumann, Brahms, Weber, and others. |
Rosengren and Robert H. Reynolds in Ticheli Concerto—A Los Angeles triumph!
November 3, 2010
The highly anticipated new Clarinet Concerto by Frank Ticheli was presented in a stunning performance at Bovard Auditorium with clarinet soloist Håkan Rosengren and the USC wind symphony, directed by legendary conductor Robert Reynolds. |
Another brilliant Crusell Concerto performance by Rosengren
October 20, 2010
Crusell's F-Minor Concerto for Clarinet reached the height of its expression in the hands of clarinet soloist Håkan Rosengren in Vanersborg and Uddevalla, demonstrating once again his reputation as a strong interpreter of Crusell's clarinet music. Critics were unanimous: "No other clarinetist can match the musical depths, tonal beauty and power, and virtuoso brilliance of Hakan Rosengren. His Crusell interpretations are unequalled." Rosengren's visit to Sweden also saw him give a masterclass for the students at Vänersborgs Music Gymnasium. |
Successful world premiere of Ticheli Concerto in Los Angeles
October 11, 2010
Frank Ticheli's Concerto for Clarinet in its wind symphony version received its world premiere on October 11, 2010, with soloist Håkan Rosengren and the CSU Fullerton Wind Symphony conducted by Mitch Fennell. The work, written for and dedicated to Mr. Rosengren, showed promise of a tour de force for the clarinet repertoire. |
Recital Tour with Hungarian Pianist Péter Nagy
October 5, 2010
In a program with music by Schumann, Brahms, and Weber, audiences in Saro, Härnösand and Kristinehamn Sweden were treated to a remarkable duo performance. Critics exclaimed: "An extra ordinary concert", "complete collaboration," "perfect precision," "very beautiful," "exciting and mentally engaging," and "lovely, beautiful, and powerful." Also, Mr. Rosengren presented a masterclass for the students (including those from Spain and Norway) of Urban Claesson, Principal Clarinetist of Gothenburg Symphony, at Gothenburg College of Music. |
Rosengren Premieres new Ticheli Concerto with JoAnn Falletta
July 20, 2010
The U.S. premiere of Frank Ticheli's new Clarinet Concerto, composed for Håkan Rosengren, was presented on July 10 in an inspired performance at Festival Hill. Conducting the Texas Festival Orchestra was JoAnn Falletta, whose energetic direction propelled the virtuosic first and third movements into a vigorous interpretation. The performance of the second movement's geniously poignant melodies was breathtaking. The crowd responded with standing ovations. An awestruck YouTube viewer writes: "There have been a number of significant works written by important composers for legendary clarinetists; Mozart/Stadler, Weber/Baermann, Brahms/Muhlfeld, Nielsen/Oxenvad, Copland/Goodman and now there is Ticheli/Rosengren. What an exquisitely beautiful poetic second movement! And the soloist's playing is sublime." |
2010 Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival another success for Rosengren
June 1, 2010
Artistic Director Håkan Rosengren had assembled a consummate cast of musicians: the musical team of Peter Nagy, Andrzej Bauer, Rosengren, Philip Bush, Jorja Fleezanis and the Biava Quartet dazzled the capacity audiences in the Moravian Room for two weeks. |
Standing Ovations at the World Premiere of the Ticheli Concerto with Lithuanian National Symphony
May 2, 2010
The world premiere performance of Frank Ticheli's new Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra occurred in April in Vilnius Lithuania at Philharmonic Hall with clarinet soloist Håkan Rosengren and the Lithuanian National Symphony, conducted by Juozas Domarkas.
The Clarinet Concerto is the result of a creative alliance between composer and artist. Ticheli writes, "I was delighted when a commission offer came my way from clarinetist, Håkan Rosengren. His fiery virtuosity, combined with his poignantly beautiful sound, had a direct influence on my creative decisions throughout the work."
Rosengren is certainly no stranger in Lithuania—he is guest soloist frequently enough there—and the orchestra displayed its support of the Swedish-American clarinetist. As a result, the world premiere was all a composer could hope for: committed, passionate playing, exploring each nuance fully. Rosengren's gorgeous full yet flexible sound in all registers was combined with brilliant virtuosity and a musical interpretation of unique depth. The audience was at its feet instantly at the end of the work. |
Memorable masterclass in Stockholm
April 15, 2010
Rosengren was inspiring and very informative in his masterclass with the students of Lilla Akademien in Stockholm Sweden, best described as the Stockholm Music Conservatory and a preparatory school for younger students prior to studies at the Royal College, and where one of Rosengren's former students, Elin Olsson teaches. |
Powerful Nielsen Concerto in Lisbon
April 5, 2010
Rosengren presented yet another technically superior and emotionally charged performance of this 1928 masterpiece in collaboration with Robertas Servenikas and the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra. |
Critical Praise of Rosengren’s
Weber Recording on SMS Classical
March 5, 2010
Rosengren’s stunning recording of the concertos for clarinet and orchestra by
Carl Maria von Weber continues to receive accolades. The American Record Guide
wrote: “Rosengren has a brilliant soloist’s personality, setting forth ambitious
fast tempos and matching them with clean fingers, sizzling articulation, and
beautiful phrasing. He knows all the special moments in these works, and he brings
them out with a wide variety of color and nuance.” |
Charismatic Solo Recital in Wine-Country’s
Los Olivos, California
March 1, 2010
Rosengren’s tonal and technical virtuosity shone in works by Schumann, Debussy,
Lutoslawski, Laporte, and Saint Saens in a recital in Los Olivos, in the Santa
Ynez Valley, California. The audience was treated to a concert of rare beauty
and charm that ended with an encore by Gabriel Pierne. |
2010 Clarinet Day at CSUF—a Big Success
February 17, 2010
The first annual CSUF Clarinet Day, organized by Margaret Worsley and Håkan Rosengren,
was a real treat for the Southern California clarinet community. Rosengren presented
a master class in front of a capacity crowd at CSUF Thorsen Hall which was followed
by master classes with Ben Lulich, principal clarinetist in the Pacific Symphony,
and Donald Foster, principal clarinetist in the Hollywood Film studios and the
Santa Barbara Symphony. The day ended with an evening concert by Rosengren, Foster,
Worsley, pianist Mikhail Korzhev, and the Clarinet Day Clarinet Choir conducted
by Jonathan Sacdalan, a former CSUF clarinet student now in the DMA program at
UCLA. |
Outstanding Messiaen and Mykietyn
in Warsaw, Poland
January 5, 2010
The end of 2009 saw Rosengren returning to Warsaw in a stunning performance of
Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time together with violinist Jakub
Jakowicz, cellist Andrzej Bauer, and pianist Jan Krzysztof Broja. The performance
of Messiaen’s work, which received standing ovations, was followed by a recording
for the Polish National Radio of Pawel Mykietyn’s extraordinary trio for clarinet,
cello, and piano. Mykietyn, one of the most celebrated contemporary Polish composers
and recently appointed Composer-in-Residence at the Polish National Symphony,
has written a work of intricate colorful subtleties and muscular drama. |
Fabulous Performance with the Austin Chamber Music
Center
November 14, 2009
Rosengren displayed brilliant virtuosity in his collaboration with Carpe Diem
String Quartet, pianist Michelle Schumann, and violinist Charles Weatherby. The
musicians’ performances of Schoenfeld’s Trio and Prokofiev’s Ouverture on Hebrew
Themes were a tour de force of imagination and clarity of form. |
Melodic Beauty in Weber’s Concerto
no. 2 with Corona Symphony
October 30, 2009
Rosengren excelled with his imaginative phrasing and natural understanding of
the early Romantic melodicism and spirit in a California performance of Weber’s
Concerto no. 2. Together with conductor Marco Mejia, a former clarinet student,
and the Corona Symphony, Rosengren treated the audience to a beautiful performance
of this dramatic as well as ethereal work by the German master composer. |
Rosengren to Premiere Frank Ticheli’s
Clarinet Concerto in April 2010
October 1, 2009
Frank Ticheli’s new Concerto for Clarinet is a beautiful, dramatic and virtuosic
work filled with contrasting expressions. It is written in two versions—one for
clarinet solo with orchestra and the other for clarinet solo with wind symphony.
A magnificent work in an American voice, the Clarinet Concerto will be premiered
by Rosengren in Europe on April 17, 2010 with Robertas Servenikas leading the
Lithuanian National Symphony and in the U.S. on July 11, 2010 with JoAnn Falletta
conducting the Texas Festival Orchestra. Rosengren will premiere the wind symphony
version in November 2010. |
Breathtaking and Imaginative Weber in
Los Angeles at the L’Eremitage
September 15, 2009
Rosengren’s performance with Russian pianist Mikhail Korzhev at the L’Eremitage
Foundation chamber series was met by seemingly endless applause. The duo performed
a breathtaking rendition of Weber’s Grand Duo Concertant—a melodically imaginative
and virtuosic performance of a difficult work. And Brahms’ Sonata no. 1 was given
a reading of unique musical depth and tonal quality. The encore, Canzonetta by
Gabriel Pierne, was completely charming. |
Spellbinding Performance in Houston
August 30, 2009
Rosengren and pianist Rick Rowley presented a memorable performance in Houston’s
Jones Symphony Hall in front of a large and appreciative audience. The Rosengren-Rowley
Duo played Messager’s Solo de Concours and Weber’s Duo Concertant with imaginative
conviction, strongly personable musical style, and virtuosic instrumental prowess. |
Rosengren’s 13th year at Festival Hill
July 20, 2009
In his thirteenth year at Festival Hill in Round Top, clarinetist Rosengren was
featured in music by Bernstein and Brahms, among other works, and mentored three
uniquely talented clarinet students, all with a bright futures: Portuguese Hugo
Azenha and Americans Jason Shaefer and Alana Alexander. |
Ravishing chamber music performances
May 20, 2009
The third annual Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival took place May 5-17, during
which Artistic Director Håkan Rosengren was joined by pianists Phillip Bush and
Rick Rowley, Polish cello virtuoso Andrzej Bauer and the New York based Biava
Quartet. The Festival presented nine concerts; seven in the Moravian room at
the Country Place Hotel, a Children’s Concert, and a celebrated concert at the
Hobby Center in downtown Houston, on May 13 attended by the Swedish Consul Jan
Dryselius. The Festival musicians were featured twice on Houston’s KUHF Radio’s
live “Front Row” and also on KMFA and KUT Radio in Austin, and KAMU Radio in
College Station. |
Standing Ovations
for Rosengren’s Mozart Concerto
April 21, 2009
Hakan Rosengren’s two performances of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the
Santa Barbara Symphony, Nir Kabaretti conducting, received standing ovations
from a capacity audience at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara News Press wrote:
“The spotlight went both tight and wide to clarinetist Hakan Rosengren’s stately
star turn on Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. Mr. Rosengren knows this popular concerto
intimately and he lends it a masterful reading. That is to say, his performance
Sunday was one of technical finesse, dynamic nuances and a certain emotional
vibrancy, as if he is still uncovering hidden virtues in the score. Mr. Rosengren’s
approach is anything but glib or facile, but rather, is imbued with the control
of and wonder at the music before him. What’s not to love when the performer
is this duly engaged and gifted?”
The Santa Barbara Independent added:
“The extent to which the well-regarded Rosengren’s technique shone in the latter
piece [Mozart Concerto] came as no surprise, but only the most jaded viewers
could fail to be impressed by the man’s presence as well. The Swedish clarinetist’s
confidence, up front and center without the safety net of a score, bordered the
unnatural. The familiar piece’s remarkable clarity made for a seductive follow-up
to the operatic burst that opened the performance.” |
Ravishing Presentation of Weber’s Concerto
no. 1
March 15, 2009
Hakan Rosengren’s performance of Weber’s Concerto in Orange County’s Meng Hall
with Kimo Furumoto and CSUF Symphony received ovations that wanted never to stop.
The soloist played with an incomparable emotional charge, tonal beauty, technical
virtuosity and deep musical understanding of the score. |
Beautiful Recital
by Rosengren and Schumann
February 25. 2009
Håkan Rosengren’s collaboration with pianist Michelle Schumann, Artistic Director
of Austin Chamber Music Center, was inspiring in the Hillman Series at Mary Hardin
Baylor University. The program included outstanding interpretations of Brahms’
Sonata in E flat Major, op. 120 no. 2, Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces, and Debussy’s
Premiere rhapsodie. Rosengren/Schumann is a vibrant duo that will continue to
enrich the chamber music scene in the Austin area. |
Frank Ticheli starts work on Clarinet
Concerto for Håkan Rosengren
December 20, 2008
The Los Angeles-based composer Frank Ticheli, perhaps the most performed American
composer, announced that he is now ready to begin his work on this commission.
This is a collaboration that has already attracted a lot of interest from orchestras
and conductors around the globe and is likely to produce a work of tremendous
beauty and excitement. |
Sparkling success
with the National Symphony
November 15, 2008
“Silk isn’t as smooth as Håkan Rosengren’s clarinet sound” is what one critic
exclaimed after Rosengren’s performance in Vilnius, Lithuania with the Lithuanian
National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Robertas Servenikas. Debussy’s Premiere
rhapsodie and Martin Willert’s Hallucination were exquisitely performed and drew
overwhelming ovations. Rosengren’s performance of Debussy was called “shimmering
and very beautiful,” and Willert’s work—written for Rosengren—was described as
“just, wow” and “tailor-made for Rosengren.” |
Rosengren Opens New Theater in Houston
October 15, 2008
In October, Håkan Rosengren, in collaboration with pianist Michelle Schumann,
Artistic Director of Austin Chamber Music Center, inaugurated the new Owen Theatre
in Conroe Texas, outside Houston, in a performance met with tremendous accolades.
Rosengren and Schumann mesmerized the capacity audience with a program of delightful
treats by Schumann, Brahms, Messager, Pierne and Saint-Saens for the opening
performance, celebrating the new theater. |
Rosengren in Weber’s
Concertos and Concertino on SMS Classical: Stunning
September 15, 2008
The latest recording of Weber’s Concertos and the Concertino for clarinet and
orchestra featuring Rosengren with the North Czech Philharmonic, Charles Olivieri-Munroe
conducting, has been called “stunning” and “a lively, expressive performance.”
Just released on SMS Classical, it represents Rosengren’s deep affinity with
and long love of Weber’s music for clarinet. Coupled with Rosengren’s innate
understanding of the early Romantic idiom, the recording inspires a fresh, virtuosic,
expressive performance. Soloist and orchestra sound with one voice, bringing
passionate high points and drama in the music. |
Rosengren’s 12th Year in Residence at
Festival Hill
July 20, 2008
Year 2008 was Rosengren’s 12th consecutive year performing on the artist-faculty
at the International Festival-Institute at Round Top, a six-week summer orchestra
and chamber music program for young professional musicians in south-central Texas.
This year, Rosengren was soloist with the Texas Festival Chamber Orchestra in
an acclaimed performance of Richard Strauss’ Duet Concertino. Messian’s sublime
Quartet for the End of Time, Beethoven’s Quintetfor Piano and Winds, and Beethoven’s
Sextet all featured Rosengren |
Fayetteville Chamber
Music Festival: a Texas Triumph for Rosengren
June 1, 2008
The 2nd Annual Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival presented outstanding performances
by a sensational line-up of artists. Artistic Director Håkan Rosengren had assembled
a cast of the kind of quality rarely seen in any chamber music festival. |
Ohio audience in ecstasy over Brahms
and Mozart
May 17, 2008
After performances of the quintets by Brahms and Mozart in Cleveland’s Rocky
River Chamber Music Society and Wooster’s Chamber Music Society Håkan Rosengren
and Chiara Quartet were celebrated with applauses and ovations that would never
want to stop. |
Swedish Tour a Huge Success for Rosengren and Chiara
Quartet
May 16, 2008
During the spring tour 2008 in Sweden with concerts in Falkenberg, Lund (Malmö),
Stockholm, Ljusdal, Kilafors, Sandviken, Hudiksvall, and Söderhamn Håkan Rosengren
and Chiara Quartet received standing ovations and rave reviews in every concert
for their performances of Brahms and Mozart quintets. And seven of eight organizers
increased their audience numbers with between 50 to 100 percent compared to their
normal concert attendance.Camilla Dal in Gefle Dagblad calls it a “Brilliant
performance”. Ljusdals-Posten verdict is that it was“Wonderful”. Hudiksvalls
Tidning exclaims “A complete musical success” and continues “The musicians play
as pure as the Italian word chiara (clear and pure) promises, with a complete
control in all areas: tonal balance, timing, agogic, expression, and technical
virtuosity”. Söderhamns Kuriren adds: “Chiara and Håkan Rosengren possess the
most subtle five-some unity imaginable, in which the clarinet with its different
timbre has somewhat of a starring role”. Ljusnan is no less impressed and states:
“With his beautiful sound, virtuoso technique, and musical presentation, Håkan
Rosengren was in symbiosis with the Chiara Quartet”. |
A Sublime Mozart Interpretation by Rosengren, BVSO,
and
March 5, 2008
Håkan Rosengren’s performance with Brazos Valley Symphony and Brazilian conductor
Marcelo Bussiki was a sublime and spellbounding presentation of this 1791 masterpiece
with a quality rarely heard anywhere in the world. After the final note the capacity
audience flew to their feet and gave Rosengren a standing ovation of a length
never experienced before in College Station. |
Rosengren and Epperson in Stunning Collaboration
February 28, 2008
Håkan Rosengren’s performance and masterclass with collaborative piano phenomenon
Anne Epperson at University of Colorado, Boulder was met by reverence by the
large audience of students, faculty and other music lovers. The Saint Saens’
Sonata was a revelation of particular notice as well as the teaching demonstration
on the Carl Nielsen Clarinet Concerto. |
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