Så som i himmelen - program

ENGLISH SYNOPSIS
ACT I
After a heart attack, the celebrated conductor Daniel
Daréus leaves his music career behind and returns to his
childhood village Ljusåker. Once there, he allows himself
to be persuaded to help with the local church choir. The
members include opinionated shop owner Arne, Lena the
cashier, the pastor’s wife Inger, Holmfrid who bakes buns
for the choir’s coffee break, and Gabriella, who is married
to the violent Conny, who Daniel remembers as a schoolyard
bully. Tore, who has a learning disability, proves to
have a melodious bass voice and he too joins the choir.
Warm feelings begin to grow between Daniel and Lena.
Although the choir members are initially dubious about
Daniel’s unconventional singing exercises, they soon
notice the development in their voices and tone. Pastor
Stig, on the other hand, remains critical and accuses his
wife of turning her back on both him and God.
The choir is to give a spring concert and, struck by
Gabriella’s beautiful voice during rehearsals, Daniel
writes a song for her: Gabriella’s Song.
ACT II
The spring concert is a triumph and they celebrate with
a party, at which Arne announces that he has entered the
choir in a competition in Vienna. Stig is outraged to witness
his wife Inger letting her hair down during the party
and accuses her of sinning. Stig informs Daniel that his
services are no longer required, but the choir is still keen
to travel to Austria to compete. Even Inger joins them,
against her husband’s wishes. Gabriella rushes in with
her children and announces that she has left Conny.
Daniel has mixed feelings about returning to Vienna and
having to explain why he left his successful international
career for a provincial choir. However, he realises that
the most important things in his life are his work with
the choir and his love for Lena. When Daniel declares his
love for her, she tells him she is expecting his child. Just
as the concert is about to begin, Daniel feels a stabbing
pain in his chest. The choir begins to sing without its
conductor and, as the performance reaches a crescendo,
Daniel dies in Lena’s arms.
Klas Wiljergård, Erik Gullbransson