Lessons in Love and Violence

Name: Lessons in Love and Violence
Start: 2026-09-17
End: 2026-09-18
Location: Berwaldhallen

took place · 17 Sep 2026

Berwaldhallen, Stockholm

concert Classical date culture

Next show

Myths and Mysteries with Barbara Hannigan

Wed, 4 Nov 2026 · Göteborgs Konserthus, Gothenburg →

Description was written before the event

Conductor and composer George Benjamin meets pianist Bertrand Chamayou and soprano Barbara Hannigan in a programme ranging from Maurice Ravel's rhythmic Alborada del Gracioso to Jean Sibelius' mythological Luonnotar and Unsuk Chin's piano concerto.

After the interval, Benjamin's own Lessons in Love and Violence is performed, and the concert concludes with Ravel's Rapsodie espagnole.

Line-up

About: George Benjamin

One of contemporary classical music's leading figures, Benjamin brings to the podium the same precision that marks his scores - his operas with Martin Crimp, from Written on Skin to Picture a day like this, have redefined what new opera can be.

20+

Performances of Written on Skin at international opera houses

200+

Performances of Ringed by the Flat Horizon internationally

Guardian ranking of Written on Skin among 21st-century works

What's new

2026-04
Critics praised the 'shimmering marvel' of Benjamin's score in a new staging of Written on Skin directed by Tatjana Gürbaca.
2026-02
Benjamin conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in a programme featuring his own Palimpsests, as part of his three-season residency.
2025-10
The Nimbus Records live recording of Picture a day like this, with Benjamin conducting the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, won the Contemporary Award at the 2025 Gramophone Awards.

Tour

LondonAmsterdamMunichWashingtonMontrealNew YorkBerlinParis

Tracks

Written on SkinOpera (2012), co-written with Martin Crimp; ranked #2 work of the 21st century by The Guardian, staged at 20+ opera houses worldwide.

Picture a day like thisOpera (2023), premiered at Aix-en-Provence; its Nimbus recording won the Contemporary Award at the 2025 Gramophone Awards.

Ringed by the Flat HorizonOrchestral work (1980); premiered at the BBC Proms when Benjamin was 20, now with 200+ international performances.

Lessons in Love and ViolenceOpera (2018) with Martin Crimp; performed at major opera houses including the Royal Opera House.

PalimpsestsOrchestral work in two parts; conducted by Benjamin himself at the LPO Royal Festival Hall concert in February 2026.

About: Bertrand Chamayou

Toulouse-born Chamayou is one of France's most decorated pianists - five Victoires de la musique, a Gramophone Recording of the Year, and a discography that ranges from Ravel's complete solo piano works to John Cage. He collaborates regularly with leading conductors and soloists, and heads the Festival Ravel in the Basque Country.

5×

Victoires de la musique wins

Gramophone Recording of the Year (Saint-Saens concertos, 2019)

1.5M+

YouTube channel views (as of Aug 2025)

ISO concerts as artist-in-residence 2026-27

What's new

2026-06
Chamayou was announced as artist-in-residence of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra for the 2026-27 season, where he will perform with chief conductor Barbara Hannigan.
2025-03
His album Ravel: Fragments was released on Warner Classics in March 2025, earning a Gramophone Recording of the Month designation.
2025-11
The four-hands album Schubert: Four Hands, recorded with Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes for Warner Classics/Erato, was released in November 2025.

Tour

ReykjavikDijonMadridOsloAmsterdamBerlinParisGrenobleAix-en-ProvenceBordeauxNancyLucerneGothenburgLondon

Tracks

Maurice Ravel: Complete Works for Solo Piano2016 double album on Erato; won Echo Klassik Award 2016, hailed by Gramophone for 'revelatory performances of breathtaking beauty'

Liszt: Années de pèlerinage2011 recording; won Victoire de la musique and Gramophone's Choice

Saint-Saens: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5Gramophone Recording of the Year 2019

Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant-Jesus2022 Erato release; one of his signature large-scale solo projects

Ravel: Fragments2025 Warner Classics album; Gramophone Recording of the Month

About: Barbara Hannigan

Nova Scotian-born Hannigan is one of the rare artists who sings and conducts from the podium in the same concert - a practice she has taken to stages from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Royal Concertgebouw. Her Grammy-winning debut album Crazy Girl Crazy and her Polar Music Prize (2025) mark the twin peaks of a career built on championing new music.

100+

World premieres performed

Alpha Classics albums released

2018

Grammy Award win (Best Classical Solo Vocal Album)

2019

Principal Guest Conductor of Gothenburg Symphony since

What's new

2026
Hannigan was named a recipient of the National Arts Centre Award in 2026.
2026-08
Hannigan began her tenure as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in August 2026.
2025-05
Hannigan received the 2025 Polar Music Prize at a ceremony in Stockholm on May 27, 2025, alongside Queen and Herbie Hancock.

Tour

LondonAmsterdamStockholmReykjavikNew YorkMontrealMunichGothenburgLausannePragueMilanVicenza

Tracks

Crazy Girl Crazy2017 debut album as singer-conductor; Grammy winner 2018, featuring Berio, Berg and Gershwin with the Ludwig Orchestra

La Voix humaine (Poulenc)Signature staged production in which she simultaneously sings the role of Elle and conducts the orchestra

Mysteries of the Macabre (Ligeti)Iconic concert piece she performs singing and conducting simultaneously

La Passione2020 album with Ludwig Orchestra featuring works by Nono, Haydn and Grisey

The White Book (Laura Bowler)World premiere 2025-26 season, commissioned work for soprano and orchestra based on Han Kang's novel

Recent shows

Mar 28, 2026 Bijou Theatre, Knoxville (US)
Mar 27, 2026 Bijou Theatre, Knoxville (US)
Jan 18, 2026 Konserthuset, Gothenburg (SE)

Lessons in Love and Violence

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