- Composer: Emil Sjgren^Hugo Alfvn^Sigurd von Koch^Ture Rangstrm^Wilhelm Peterson-Berger^Wilhelm Stenhammar
- Audio CD (5 Oct 2000)
- SPARS Code: DDD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Deutsche Grammophon
- ASIN: B000001GRT
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
221,381 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
- #91 in Music > Opera & Vocal > Song > Mezzo-Soprano
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Don't worry if most of these composers are unfamiliar, this is an essential recital of Swedish songs by one of the greatest Lieder singers of modern times, caught in her vocal prime. It's a bit like going to a fantastic concert except that you don't have to worry about the sweet-wrapper rustlers, the snorers or the mobile phones that tend to dog live music-making. Here Anne Sofie von Otter and her willing accomplice, Bengt Forsberg, take you on a tantalising voyage of discovery--from the Grieg-like songs of Emil Sjögren to the explorations of Ture Rangström, this will have you switching from track to track trying to pick favourites. Even the briefest songs conjure a world of their own, heavy with emotion--Wilhelm Stenhammar's "Jutta Comes to the Volkungs" or Rangström's "The Farewell", or the simple charm of Wilhelm Peterson-Berger's "Aspaker's Polka" or Hugo Alfvén's haunting "The Forest is Asleep". And the list goes on. Take one at a time or gorge upon the entire 70-plus minutes at one sitting: you're guaranteed to come back hungry for more. --Harriet Smith
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The treasure of classical music from Sweden is generally noticable by the fact that most of it is recent - 19th and 20th century. The songs on this album are mostly from the early 20th century, although several are classical interpretations of older tunes with their roots in folk music. Either way, they are refreshingly different from a lot of our most celebrated operatic pieces. Another virtue (as i see it) of the Swedish taste in music, is that it recognises the beauty of the mezzo soprano. Whilst being a natural soprano tends to be a prerequisite or at least an advantage for aquiring lead parts or becoming a celebrated solo opera singer, the Swedes, and eventually the rest of the world, have chosen to make Anne Sofie von Otter one of the greatest names in the history of Swedish classical singing. And a well deserved reputation it is, too. The selection of songs on Wings in the Night show both the vocal perfection and dramatic quality of this wonderful singer, who sings with intensity and at the same time completely effortlessly. The only thing that can be said against the album is that it is not longer: 73 minutes seem to come to an end far too soon!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
On every level, this is a stunning recording. The music itself is unusual, and hardly ever heard, but every track offers something new - something for everyone. The performances by Anne Sofie von Otter and her accompanist are similarly emotive, and incredibly sensitive to the music and the texts. The quality of recording is also fantastic. If you are going to buy any CD, buy this one! Stunning.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
I wish I was Swedish
10 Jun 2006
Format:Audio CD
This is simply my favorite disc of song out there. As a recreational singer, it's wonderful to come across a disc like this and be given an entire new world of song that you can't even find music for. The songs by Sigurd von Koch, who spent some time in Asia, are beautiful enough to dissolve your brain! In The Month Of Tjaitra and Of Lotus Scent And Moonlight are so full of beautiful imagery and wonderful music I can't see why people sing anything else. And the folk-inspired Pertersen-Berger songs are loads of fun too, although of course not as moving.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful collection
19 Mar 2010
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful collection containing several masterly songs that wouldn't pale beside more famous French or German songs, and they are wonderfully evocatively and sensitively performed. The programme is variegated in terms of moods and colors, even though most items bear some kind of relation to folk music, and many of the songs are in fact thoroughly memorable, evidently written by master melodists. Stenhammar is perhaps the greatest composer overall among those featured, and his songs are probably the ones that reaches the deepest into the human condition and psyche. Yet I was just as compelled by Peterson-Berger more overtly folk-inspired and simpler style and the perhaps surprising expressive range and subtleties they encompass. Apart from those, Alfvén's contributions are stirringly dark-hued - as is most of his music - whereas Rangström's contributions are more varied in tone and mood, which would perhaps come as a surprise to those who only know him through the fiercely dark, magically dramatic orchestral works.
The less familiar figures also come off well; Sigurd von Koch's contributions are atmospheric, almost impressionistic, tone paintings and while Sjögren's style is more conventionally German inspired, his songs contain enough good ideas to sustain interest. Throughout von Otter's singing is simply superb, exhibiting a truly impressive expressive range and subtlety of coloration; Bengt Forsbeg is also an admirable, sensitive partner. A wonderful release, and I urge anyone to check out the sequel, `Watercolors', which features somewhat more modern and even lesser known Swedish composers.
The less familiar figures also come off well; Sigurd von Koch's contributions are atmospheric, almost impressionistic, tone paintings and while Sjögren's style is more conventionally German inspired, his songs contain enough good ideas to sustain interest. Throughout von Otter's singing is simply superb, exhibiting a truly impressive expressive range and subtlety of coloration; Bengt Forsbeg is also an admirable, sensitive partner. A wonderful release, and I urge anyone to check out the sequel, `Watercolors', which features somewhat more modern and even lesser known Swedish composers.
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