On September 18, 2024, Britta Byström will be honored as the inaugural recipient of a newly established music award from Kungliga Fysiografiska Sällskapet in Lund, the Barbro B. Johansson Award.
This prestigious accolade celebrates Byström’s contributions to contemporary classical music and honours her as one of Sweden’s leading composers.
In recognition of this award, Byström has composed a new work titled Camera Picta for the Messiaen Quartet Copenhagen. Inspired by Danish author Inger Christensen’s novel The Painted Room (Det malede værelse, 1976), Camera Picta reflects on the work of the Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna, whose frescoes in the Camera Picta of Mantua are famous for their illusionistic perspectives, particularly the ceiling fresco, which appears to open up to the sky.
The Messiaen Quartet Copenhagen, known for their masterful interpretations of contemporary repertoire, will premiere Camera Picta on September 17, 2024, in Copenhagen, followed by a performance at the Award Ceremony in Lund on September 18, and in Varberg on September 20.
The Award Ceremony on September 18, will be livestreamed. Watch it here.
