Based on traditional Swedish folklore, Hugo Alfvén's Mountain King Suite distills his evening-length ballet about a shepherdess abducted by a mountain king. This suite showcases Alfvén's gift for lush, programmatic music with four contrasting movements that include triumphant fanfares, enchanting dances, and delicate depictions of summer rain that sparkle with woodwinds and shimmering strings.

Conductor Thomas Søndergård led the Minnesota Orchestra in this performance on January 17, 2025.