With its real name of Festspel, this overture
was a commission for the opening of Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre in
1908.He had initially found
it hard to find an inspiration for the peace until there was a visit from
the poet Verner von Heidenstam where they discussed what it was like in the
time of Charles XII.This
immediately brought to mind thoughts of a polonaise rhythm and fanfares and
in the end it was written in a day.It opens with a series of fanfares, moves into a lyrical piece and
closes with a triumphant "march".The celebratory piece is now often used for Swedish official
occasions.
