CONCERTS

Alexandra Büchel soprano,
is a lyric coloratura soprano. She trained at the University College of Opera in Stockholm and has established herself as a powerful stage presence in classical and contemporary opera. She received critical acclaim for her interpretation of Gepopo in György Ligeti’s absurdist opera Le Grand Macabre. She was also praised for her portrayal of The Blind Poetess in Karl-Birger Blomdahl’s groundbreaking space opera Aniara, where she conveyed the work’s existential depth with poetic intensity and vocal precision. Alexandra has performed in productions at Malmö Opera, Folkoperan, Norrlandsoperan, and Opera Vlaanderen, among others. She is especially admired for her crystal-clear upper register, fearless stage presence, and her eagerness to explore the unexpected. Her repertoire spans from Mozart and Mahler to works by contemporary composers.
In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious Birgit Nilsson Stipend.

Learn more at alexandrabuchel.com

Miranda Benramdane Fält dancer,

is a joyful dancer who loves to try new things! She attended the Swedish Ballet School in Gothenburg, where she danced the lead role of Clara in The Nutcracker. She then continued her studies at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm, where she was selected to perform in Swan Lake with the Royal Opera. After graduating, Miranda has participated in The Nutcracker, danced at the Berwaldhallen, performed in Armide at Drottningholm.

Ayasal Lhagvasuren dancer,

is 14 years old and attends the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm. She has trained in classical ballet for five years and has participated in several summer programs and performances. Dance is her great passion and an important part of her identity. To stand on stage at Berwaldhallen together with her best friend is something she looks forward to with great joy.

Marianne Eklöf presenter,

is one of the great singers of our time. She is a mezzo-soprano and for many years has had the world as her field of work but has also been active at Malmö Opera and for 25 years belonged to the permanent ensemble at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. There she sung roles such as Octavian in The Rosenkavalier, Carmen, Eboli in Don Carlos, Brangäne in Tristan and Isolde, Ortrud in Lohengrin and not but least Klytaimnestra in Elektra. Eklöf is also active as a director and since 2019 she has been chairman of the Stockholm Strauss Orchestra.

Judith Simon choreographer,

is trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School and directly after completing her training was employed by the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Early in her career Judith performed solo roles and competed in international ballet competitions. This led to her being appointed soloist and premiere dancer. Judith’s strong technique and sparkling personality gave her many leading roles and soloist assignments during her career at the Royal Opera as well as international tours to, for example, Japan, the USA, Brazil, England, Italy and the Czech Republic. She is now active as a choreographer and teacher at The Royal Swedish Ballet School.

Stockholm Strauss Orchestra,

was formed in 1992 as part of the Swedish Strauss Society formed in 1960. The driving force was Berth Vestergård, also one of the founders of the Swedish Strauss Society. The orchestra is modelled after and has the same instrumental setting as the Capelle Strauss orchestra, which operated under the direction of members of the Strauss family between 1827 and 1901. The orchestra also wears the same attire of red tails and white trousers that the Capelle Strauss musicians wore at court balls in Vienna.

Lydia Kjellberg soprano,
trained at the Stockholm University of the Arts, had her major breakthrough in the summer of 2023 as Lady Macbeth in Läckö Opera's production of Verdi's Macbeth. Lydia has sung the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at Vattnäs Concert Barn. Her broad repertoire ranges from Mimi in La Bohème to more dramatic coloratura roles. With Piteå Chamber Opera, she performed the role of Doreen in the opera Sylvia – about the author Sylvia Plath – composed by Andrea Tarrodi. In 2022, Lydia was awarded the Swedish Wagner Society's Bayreuth Scholarship and was chosen to participate in a concert at Villa Wahnfried, where she received great praise from both the audience and the press.

Mika Eichenholz conductor,

is former Chief conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de Concepción in Chile. He is extensively involved with orchestras in various parts of the world and has guest conducted, the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburger Symphoniker, amongst others. In Sweden, in addition to the Strauss Orchestra, Eichenholz is often seen as a guest conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, most recently in the concert for the opening of the Parliamentary session, the Dagens Nyheter open-air Gärdet concert and the Epiphany Concert at the Stockholm Concert Hall in 2024. He has conducted at Gothenburg Opera, Wermland Opera, Malmö Opera and Folk Opera in Stockholm and has made a large number of cd recordings for EMI and Naxos to name but a few.

Thelise Jonséus dancer, is currently in her first year of the professional dance program at the Royal Swedish Ballet School. Previously, she danced at the Alhanko Academy of Ballet and then started at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in 9th grade. In the summer of 2024, she participated in the Académie International de Dance de Biarritz in France. She also performed in the New Year's Concert in 2022.

Niklas Blomkvist dancer,

was trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School from 2001 to 2010, as well as at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow from 2010 to 2011. He has worked as a dancer in a wide repertoire of classical works, modern/neoclassical pieces, and musicals with companies and institutions such as the Royal Swedish Ballet, Peter Schaufuss Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre, The National Ballet of Ireland, and Kulturhuset Stadsteatern. He has also guest danced with the Greek Northern Ballet. Niklas participated in the production of Billy Elliot at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern, directed by Ronny Danielsson with choreography by Roine Söderlundh. He also appeared in the musical On the Town at Smålands Musik och Teater, directed and choreographed by Roine Söderlundh. At Dramaten, Niklas has performed in the productions of Cabaret, The Seagull, and The Last Minute.

Marc Power concertmaster,

comes from a family of musicians in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After studying at the Moscow Conservatory, he played as 1st Concertmaster at the Bolshoi Academic Theatre, Opera and Ballet in Tashkent. In 1990 he moved to Sweden and was employed the following year by the Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra. He is concertmaster of the Stockholm Strauss Orchestra, Power Strings and the Stockholm Ensemble.

Andrej Nikolaevs conductor,
path in the service of music began at an early age. The violin became the obvious choice of instrument and through studies at, among others, the London Royal College, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm as a violin soloist.

Andrej has served as concertmaster and voice director in several Swedish orchestras. As a soloist, he has played Paganini's first violin concerto together with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mats Rondin.

As a conductor, he has led concerts, ballet and opera performances at, among others, the Berwaldhallen, the Royal Opera House, the Royal Palace, Confidence, the Großer Saal at the Berliner Philharmoniker and at the opera house in Krajova in Romania.

An important person for Andrej was the legendary concert pianist and professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Greta Erikson. She came to his concerts and expressed her appreciation for Andrej's way of conducting orchestras. That support means that he has Greta in grateful remembrance every time he conducts.

He has toured Europe as a conductor and collaborated with soloists such as Marianne Mörck, with the Royal Opera's court singers such as Hillevi Martinpelto, Katarina Karnéus, Daniel Johansson and Karl-Magnus Fredriksson and together with the soprano saxophonist Anders Paulsson he has made several disc recordings.

In 2021, Andrej conducted Stockholm's Strauss Orchestra's exuberant New Year's concerts for the first time, and now before the New Year's concerts in 2023, he is back at the desk, ready to waltz with the orchestra and the audience.

Judith Simon choreographer,

was trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School and directly after completing her training was employed by the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Early in her career Judith performed solo roles and competed in internationalballet competitions. This led to her being appointed soloist and premiere dancer. Judith’s strong technique and sparkling personality gave her many leading roles and soloist assignments during her career at the Royal Opera aswell as international tours to, for example, Japan, the USA, Brazil, England, Italy and the Czech Republic. She is now active as a choreographer and teacher at The Royal Swedish Ballet School.

Marc Power concertmaster,

comes from a family of musicians in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After studying at the Moscow Conservatory, he played as 1st Concertmaster at the Bolshoi Academic Theatre, Opera and Ballet in Tashkent. In 1990 he moved to Sweden and was employed the following year by the Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra. He is concertmaster of the Stockholm Strauss Orchestra, Power Strings and the Stockholm Ensemble.

PROGRAM AT THE NEW YEAR'S CONCERT 2022

Johann Strauss II – Die Sanguiniker. Waltz
Josef Strauss – Aus der Ferne. Polka-Mazurka
Johann Strauss II – Leichtes Blut. Polka schnell
Joseph Hellmesberger – Heinzelmännchen
Franz Lehár – „The Merry Widow“: Vilja-Lied

Marianne Eklöf
Johann Strauss II – Frühlingsstimmen. Waltz
Eduard Strauss – Mit Extrapost. Polka schnell

INTERMISSION 30 min

Josef Strauss – Dynamiden. Waltz
Franz Lehár – „Land of Smiles“: You are my heart's delight

Tobias Westman
Johann Strauss II – Spanish March
Deborah Henson-Conant – Baroque Flamenco for solo harp

Margareta Nilsson
Franz Lehár – „The Merry Widow”: The Widow's Waltz

Marianne Eklöf, Tobias Westman
Johann Strauss II – Tik-Tak. Polka schnell

Tobias Westman is one of Sweden’s most promising singers. He has received the prestigious Jenny Lind prize, Anders Wall’s Giresta prize and Birgit Nilsson’s scholarship. Tobias has appeared at the Opéra National de Paris,the Royal Opera in Stockholm, Malmö Opera, Wermland Opera and, not least, Vattnäs Konsertlada. Roles in the repertoire are Tamino in The Magic Flute, Jussi in The Silver Bird by Mats Larsson Gothe, Pinkerton in MadameButterfly and others. In Paris, he has appeared in The Magic Flute, Parsifal and Wozzeck at the Opéra National.

Mika Eichenholz is Chief conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de Concepción in Chile. He is extensively involved with orchestras in various parts of the world and has guest conducted, amongst others, the Salzburg MozarteumOrchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburger Symphoniker. In Sweden, in addition to the Strauss Orchestra, Eichenholz is often seen as a guest conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, most recently in the concert for the opening of the Parliamentary session and the Dagens Nyheter open-air Gärdet concert. He has conducted at Gothenburg Opera, Wermland Opera, Malmö Opera and Folk Opera in Stockholm and has made alarge number of cd recordings for EMI and Naxos to name but a few.

BASE 23 Stockholm Dance Academy

Bianca Johnson-Wessman, Mara Brusis, Thelise Jonséus och Ingrid Helgesen

Anneli Alhanko and Eva Johnson have created a school where quality and joy of dancing are the focus. BASE23 offers professional training as well as hobby courses. Big and small dance dreams meet here, from the first tentative, tripping steps to the fully-fledged dancers and artists on their way out into working life.

Stockholm Strauss Orchestra was formed in 1992 as part of the Swedish Strauss Society formed in 1960. The driving force was Berth Vestergård, also one of the founders of the Swedish Strauss Society. The orchestra is modelled after and has the same instrumental setting as the Capelle Strauss orchestra, which operated under the direction of members of the Strauss family between 1827 and 1901. The orchestra also wears the same attire of red tails and white trousers that the Capelle Strauss musicians wore at court balls in Vienna.