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
Engegard Quartet, NyNorsk Messingkvintett
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Peter Szilvay, Aage Richard Meyer, Cam Kjoll, Ruth Potter
Ssens Trio
Torleif Thedee & Marianna Shirinyan
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Berit Norbakken & Solmund Nystabakk
Magnus Boye Hansen, Mathias Halvorsen
Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing Brass Ensemble
Polina Pastirchak, Anke Vondung, Sungmin Song, Milan Siljanov, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochumer Symphoniker,
Kammerchor Stuttgart; Barockorchester Stuttgart; Frieder Bernius; Hannah Morrison; Franziska Bobe;
Choralchor der St. Johannis-Kantorei Rostock
Capella Daleminzia, Capella Vocale Waldheim, Rene Michael Roder
Gewandhaus Children's Choir, Frank-Steffen Elster, Gewandhaus Youth Choir, Gewandhaus Choir, Gregor
Aukso - Chamber Orchestra Of The City Of Tychy, Camerata Silesia Katowice City Singers' Ensemble, Marek Mos
Herbert von Karajan; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Berliner Philharmoniker
Soloists, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Bruggen
