On Palm Sunday, April 13 2025, my 20 minute passion composition for male voices and string trio, Seven Last Words of Christ, is being premiered at Ödsmåls kyrka, Stenungsund. Vocal Ensemble Lux and musicians from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (Emirzeth Henriquez, violin, Tuula Fleivik Nurmo, viola, Johan Stern, cello) will perform the work under the leadership of Ulrike Heider. This is the opening piece in a concert also featuring Arvo Pärt’s Stabat Mater and Prelude and Fugue for String Trio by Gerald Finzi.

My Requiem from 2016 will be performed in concert during this year’s International Organ Festival in Göteborg. Lux Vocal Ensemble will perform the piece together with Henrik Kilhamn (piano) and a string orchestra helmed by Johan Stern, conducted by Ulrike Heider. The concert takes place at Domkyrkan on October 15, 2024, at 19.30.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://billetto.se/e/refugee-journeys-mikael-carlsson-requiem-2016-biljetter-1077261

I’m excited to revisit the music and we’ve just begun rehearsals with the choir! Concerts will take place in Göteborg at Domkyrkan on November 16, in Hägersten (Stockholm) on November 23 and in Arboga (S:t Nicolai kyrka) on November 24.

Haga Motettkör recently premiered my setting of Puer natus in Bethlehem, the classic text depicting the arrival of Jesus Christ, as part of their christmas concert Nine Lessons and Carols. The piece was commissioned by the Church of Sweden and the performance was conducted by Ulrike Heider. Here is a recording from the premiere.

I haven’t written a lot of pieces for male choir, but had the opportunity to write a new setting of Swedish poet Gustaf Fröding’s “Det är fullbordat” (“It is Finished”) for Göteborgs Manskör to be included in their passion-themed concert where Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah was the main work of the program. I am very grateful for a beautiful premiere performance. Here is a video with the choir conducted by Mathias Harms in concert at the St Nicolai church, Lidköping.

Happy to share this video featuring the wonderful Adolf Fredriks kyrkas kammarkör’s performance of my setting of Moder Teresas fredsbön (“Mother Teresa’s Prayer for Peace”), conducted by Christoffer Holgersson in concert in i Christ Church, Dublin, Ireland, on December 3, 2022.

It took more than two years between completion of the composition and the first performance, but here it is: the world premiere of my setting of ‘Stabat Mater’, written for mixed choir and solo cello. My heartfelt thanks to Christian Berg whose sensitive, expressive playing was truly magnificent, and as always to my beloved Haga Motettkör and conductor Ulrike Heider. Also thanks to Sten Dereman for the recording! I hope that you will all enjoy the music, which is perhaps a little more dissonant, challenging and agitated in places than usual (for me).

Mother Goose Recordings has released a digital single featuring my setting of the beloved Swedish psalm, “Den blomstertid nu kommer”, written in 2011 and dedicated to my wife. Haga Motettkör performs under the direction of Ulrike Heider. The music is available for streaming and download on all digital platforms worldwide, including Spotify!

“I denna ljuva sommartid” is one of the most beloved Swedish summer psalms, composed by Nathan Söderblom in 1916. For a quick recording project with the newly formed Göteborgs Manskör, I did a colourful a cappella arrangement of the piece for male voices. Here it is in full bloom, conducted by Mathias Harms. Thanks to all the singers who participated to record in these difficult times!