JOHAN HAMMERTH
Born in Kalmar on the 27th February, 1953. Johan Hammerth was educated at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm from 1982-1990. He received his diploma in composition in 1990, and his final examination included his first Piano Concerto. Among his teachers, Sven-David Sandström, Pär Lindgren, Daniel Börtz, and Lars-Erik Rosell are worthy of mention.

Hammerth’s Piano Concerto (1989-1990), which is dedicated to Sven-David Sandström, was very well received and is regarded as his definite breakthrough. If one particular instrument is specially important to him, it is the piano. Even if Hammerth’s feelings towards his own instrument are mixed, he feels strongly for the Russian piano tradition. His own music is characterised by breadth and virtuosity and is highly expressive – it has been congenially interpreted on several occasions by Bengt-Åke Lundin, who also gave the first performance of Piano Concerto No. 2 (1993-1995). In addition, Hammerth himself has said that string instruments are his “musical lungs“: they play an important part in his orchestral works and collaborate with the wind section and other instruments in powerful climaxes which are typical for his music.

Johan Hammerth’s output covers a wide range, from chamber music to monumental orchestral works. He has frequently made use of the concerto form, writing a number of works for solo instruments and orchestra, which among other things is the result of a desire to work in close contact with the musicians. Another important composition is his Stockholm Cantata (1995-1997) for large orchestra, chorus, two soloists and narrator, which was composed for Stockholm, Cultural Capital of Europe 1998.

From 1992 to 1996 Hammerth was on the programme committee of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, nowadays he works full-time as a composer.

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