Marianne Beate Kielland (Mezzo-soprano), Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Petr Popelka
Description
Mezzo-soprano Marianne Beate Kielland is famous for her strong stage presence and musical integrity.
Gramophone Magazine writes about her:
"The mezzo-soprano is quite outstanding: strong, firm, sensitive in modulations, imaginative in her treatment of words, with a voice pure in quality, wide in range and unfalteringly true in intonation."
Considered today one of Europe's leading singers, she says of this new recording:
"As my career has progressed, I have had the chance to make numerous recordings featuring a variety of repertoires, and I have always felt the desire to record the songs of Sibelius.
A wonderful opportunity presented itself when the Norwegian Radio Orchestra with Chief Conductor Petr Popelka expressed its willingness to be part of such a recording.
Virtually all Sibelius songs are written for voice and piano, but many of them seem as though made for orchestral sounds and instrumental subtlety. Therefore a number of his finest songs have fortunately been orchestrated, and it is these editions we have used for this recording.
A few of the orchestrations were done by Sibelius himself, one by his contemporary, Simon Parmet (né Pergament), while several were orchestrated by his own son-in-law, conductor Jussi Jalas.
This album presents orchestrated songs of Sibelius from four opus numbers: 17, 36, 37 and 38."
- Marianne Beate Kielland.
Critical Acclaim
"The songs, however, are as clear as a glass of iced water ... and these accounts are exemplary and uplifting. I don't know where Ms Kjelland has been hiding but I wish she'd get out more; she has a gorgeous instrument. As for the [Norwegian] radio orchestra under the Czech conductor Petr Popelka, they match the Oslo Philharmonic for lush textures." - The Critic Magazine
"Kielland's even tone, flexibility and brilliant sensitivity to the text make
this a rewarding collection, the intensity and drama of each song
powerful and impassioned." - The Guardian
"this recital will open up a new world for many a Sibelius enthusiast unfamiliar with these lovely songs." - MusicWeb International
"[Kielland's] rootedness works well in the context of a close recording with a small orchestra exceptionally conducted by Petr Popelka who points up the Nordic Noir in these gloomy poems. […] Best of all are 'I natten' ('In the night'), where the plain upfrontedness of Kielland's delivery works well with the tiptoeing orchestra; […] 'En slanda' ('The Dragonfly') with fine word-painting and good sense of the silences" - Gramophone
Tracklisting
Torleif Thedeen (cello) & Marianna Shirinyan (piano)
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Berit Norbakken (soprano) & Solmund Nystabakk (lutes)
Magnus Boye Hansen (violin), Mathias Halvorsen (piano)
Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing Brass Ensemble
Marianne Beate Kielland, Halvor Festervoll Melien, Nils Anders Mortensen
Jan Martin Smordal
Daniel Saether, Ensemble C4
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Hans-Christoph Rademann, NDR Chor Hamburg
Chorwerk Ruhr, Florian Helgath
BachWerkVokal, Gordon Safari
Dionysos Now!
Soloists; Les Traversees Baroques; Meyer
The Gesualdo Six / Owain Park
La Compagnia del Madrigale
