Product Description

A collection of emotional, evocative and astonishingly beautiful
orchestral songs about love and death by modern Swedish masters,
including two cycles (Gefors and Hillborg) composed for their compatriot,
international superstar mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter.
Always looking for new challenges, von Otter herself conceived this
album for DG s 20/21 series: Sweden has a rich singing tradition.
I wanted to do something for its contemporary vocal music, which
is ripe for discovery.
Anne Sofie von Otter is everything you want in such a singer, with
her wide-ranging, flexible voice. (Los Angeles Daily News)
London s Guardian praised her Swedish programs, sung with her
usual matchless intelligence.
All songs on this album are world premiere recordings. Not only
Anne Sofie von Otter fans, but all music lovers will be fascinated
by the beauty and intensity of this little-known repertoire.

Track Listing

1. ...lontana in sonno...** (2003)
2. 1. Sarah Brown
3. 2. Ollie McGee
4. 3. Mabel Osborne
5. 4. William and Emily
6. 1. Den vackra älvan badar
7. 2. Ud vil jeg! ud!
8. 3. En flammande brunn av eld
9. 4. Glødende Nat!
10. 5. Sfinxen
11. 6. Fri föddes hon och hon dör fri
12. 7. I nattens våld

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #202715 in Music
• Brand: VON OTTER,ANNE SOFI
• Released on: 2008-05-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Customer Reviews

Von Otter and Swedish Music - it Works! (Surprise!)
After I get past Sibelius and Nielsen I know almost nothing about Scandinavian composers. Throw in my disenchantment with much modern music and there's very little chance I would pick up a CD featuring modern Swedish composers. But then there's the small matter of Anne Sophie Von Otter - an artist who I find completely compelling - and who has (successfully) dragged me all over the musical landscape for the last ten years.

So if anyone could get me interested in contemporary Swedish music Anne Sophie could and she has - in spades. The music itself is nothing if not engaging and Anne Sophie is in fine form. I hear things in her voice - subtle inflections and sounds - that I just don't hear elsewhere. At one point her voices drops away as it merges into the sounds of horns. Another fantastic offering by someone who I believe is our premier lieder singer - may her vocal cords remain ever supple!

How to get rid of your guests
First of all this is an excellent technically recorded album. With a decent audio system it is a dream. This is an album for people who really are into serious Swedish music. I suppose I have to say this is a beautiful recording. Personally I found it extremely boring,and quite abstract. As my heading conveys when you begin to get tired of the guests who just will not take a hint and go home, play this album, they will be out through your door in a shot. My wife called out to me is that Bjork? I just said YES, I didn't want her to know I had used money on this album.
Now this is my opinion, but to a Swedish music specialist I suppose this recording is perfect.