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Another winning program in SOTA sonics from 2L. All of Morten Lindberg’s efforts on audio-only Blu-ray + SACD have put the lie to Gordon Holt’s old dictum about the better the sonic fidelity the worse the music on the recording...
 
...Seeing that this one opened with the rather staid Holberg Suite of Grieg I at first thought it was not one of the best efforts, but the other pieces are less well-known or not known at all and all thoroughly interesting... 
 
The Grieg contributions to the disc are presented very winningly indeed, so much so that comparisons to Grieg: Holberg Suite, Music for Strings - Ruud are very difficult to make as the tempo choices are frequently very similar indeed. The differences in hearing that a listener experiences are primarily down to the size of ensemble used. On BIS, we have a full string section of a symphony orchestra whereas here it is a chamber grouping of less than 20 players! The reduced forces provides for greater clarity and a seeming greater nimbleness (although close listening reveals this to be perception rather than reality) which is very infectious. The downside to such clarity and lightness of touch is that a certain gravitas and patina of sound is missing in comparison to the Bergen version - sample both and then choose, neither account will disappoint. In many ways, providing money is not too much of a consideration, neither set of fill-ups should be missed as these are both superlative discs...
 
Tracklisting:
01. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Suite "From Holberg's Time", op. 40: I. Plelude 02:39
02. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Suite "From Holberg's Time", op. 40: II. Sarabante 03:38
03. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Suite "From Holberg's Time", op. 40: III. Gavotte 03:17
04. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Suite "From Holberg's Time", op. 40: IV. Air 05:48
05. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Suite "From Holberg's Time", op. 40: V. Rigaudon 03:54
06. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Two Nordic Melodies, op. 63: I. I folketonestil (In Folk Style) 06:57
07. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) - Two Nordic Melodies, op. 63: II. Kulokk and Stabbelaten (Cow Call and Peasant Dance) 04:13
08. Emilia Amper (1981-) - ABREGE - folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra: I. Kapten Kapsyl (Mikael Marin) 02:40
09. Emilia Amper (1981-) - ABREGE - folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra: II: Arepolska (trad/Per Danielsson) 02:20
10. Emilia Amper (1981-) - ABREGE - folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra: III. Balkanpolskan (Ola Baeckstroem) 02:12
11. Emilia Amper (1981-) - ABREGE - folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra: IV. Till Farmor (Roger Tallroth) 02:35
12. Emilia Amper (1981-) - ABREGE - folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra: V. Bambodansarna (Olov Johansson) 03:05
13. Gjermund Larsen (1981-) - DIPLOM - folk suite for fiddle and string orchestra: I. Trad 03:05
14. Gjermund Larsen (1981-) - DIPLOM - folk suite for fiddle and string orchestra: II. Abelvaer 06:55
15. Gjermund Larsen (1981-) - DIPLOM - folk suite for fiddle and string orchestra: III. Krambupolka 04:05
 
In Nordic Melodies we find Grieg in passionate play with folk songs. The work sparkles with harmonies and expression, developing a whole story from just a few short stanzas. The Holberg Suite, loved for its beauty and feared for its challenges, is a fusion of European musical tradition and a genuine Norwegian sound palette. The Trondheim Soloists follow up with two brilliant soloists, Emilia Amper on nyckelharpa and Gjermund Larsen on fiddle, in newly commissioned music characterized by the same energy and tenderness. Wild nature and Nordic light are essential elements of the folk style. This lies at the core of the Trondheim Soloist's soul, a meeting between the musical playfulness and passion.
 
Performer:
TrondheimSolistene
Emilia Amper, nyckelharpa
Gjermund Larsen, fiddle
Øyvind Gimse, artistic director
Geir Inge Lotsberg, leader