スカンジナヴィアのクリスマス

SCANDINAVIAN CHRISTMAS

JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957) Nu star jul vid snoig port
LEVI MADETOJA (1887-1947) Arkihuolesi kaikki heita
GUSTAF NORDQVIST (1886-1949) Jul, jul, stralande jul
OTTO KOTILAINEN (1868-1936) Sparven pa julmorgonen, Kun joulu on
RUBEN LILJEFORS (1871-1936) Nar det lider mot jul
etc.
Sung in: Swedish / Finnish / Norwegian / Icelandic

SYNVE LUNDGREN, soprano
JOHANNA FERNHOLM, contralto
CHRISTIAN GURTNER, Traverso
WOLFGANG KOGERT, organ
MARKUS VORZELLNER, piano

Recorded 2007

From the home of Father Christmas
Let’s reminisce about childhood and the story of Father Christmas who, as we were told, lives ‘far, far in the north’ and with his reindeer surprises the children of this world with presents. Thus it is strange that we know hardly any Christmas carols from the ‘land of Father Christmas’. To stay with thoughts of childhood, the carols the benefactor with the big bushy beard would sing himself remain a secret from the rest of the world, although they are well-known in Scandinavian countries. We are too overwhelmed by the dominance of the German, English and American traditional carols and so Jingle Bells, O Christmas Tree, Silent Night and Joy to the World are perennial hits. Everyone who celebrates Christmas has no problem recognising the melodies played over the loudspeakers in Christmas markets, even when sung in other languages, and even when, according to differing tastes, they are arranged in almost any musical genre.

This production is heartily recommended to anyone interested in multicultural songs, anyone who wants to hear, besides the French ‘Noel’ or the Spanish ‘Felice Navidad’, what Scandinavian composers, true to the best classic traditions, connect with their home country’s songs. One thing is true: it’s not just about unknown carols, but also about CONTEMPLATIVE MOMENTS at Christmas time with the Norwegian soprano SYNVE LUNDGREN and the Finnish mezzo-soprano JOHANNA FERNHOLM.

Naturally, there are one or two familiar carols whereby the variety of languages alone is fascinating: Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, and even Icelandic. Most interesting of all are those works by famous composers such as JEAN SIBELIUS,
LEVI MADETOJA, GUSTAV NORDQUIST and OTTO KOTILAINEN. The unmistakable, typical, Scandinavian melancholy tones are also shown off to advantage, almost meditative, reserved, without being pompous - a contemplative Christmas indeed. ( Phoenix Edition )