Sebastian Fagerlund: Höstsonaten ('autumn Sonata')

Description

Sebastian Fagerlund has made a name for himself primarily through his concertos and orchestral works. As demonstrated on previous BIS recordings, his music displays a huge range of colours and an uncommon rhythmic vitality, as well as a sure feel for instrumental writing. He has nevertheless also composed a number of vocal and choral works, and in fact the first release on BIS of his music was the opera Döbeln (2010). Fagerlund's second opera is based on Ingmar Bergman’s 1978 chamber drama Höstsonaten ('Autumn Sonata'), which tells of the celebrated pianist Charlotte Andergast, and how she is confronted by her daughter Eva, who accuses her of neglect and self-absorption. This is the first adaptation for opera of Bergman’s screenplay . Höstsonaten was premièred at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki in 2017, with Anne Sofie von Otter as Charlotte – the role for which Ingrid Bergman was nominated for an Oscar as best actress. She is supported by a cast including Erika Sunnegårdh, Helena Juntunen and Tommi Hakala, and the chorus and orchestra of the Finnish National Opera conducted by John Storgårds.