Sandra Lied Haga / The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia / Terje Mikkelsen TCHAIKOVSKY Rococo Variations DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto

ROCOCO VARIATIONS - CELLO CONCERTO

Henning Kraggerud MUNCH SUITE

Munch Suite is a unique recording from acclaimed violinist Henning Kraggerud being released to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the painter Edvard Munch. It features 15 new solo pieces, every one directly inspired by a specific painting by the great Norwegian artist. Each piece has been written by a different composer, in this case some important figures on the international contemporary music scene including Aaron Jay Kernis, Alissa Firsova and Laurent Petitgirard. The CD is presented in a de-luxe edition box that includes reproductions of each painting depicted in the suite.

The idea to let contemporary composers interpret Edvard Munch's iconic artworks came from the director of the Vestfold International Festival. Violinist Henning Kraggerud immediately saw the artistic potential of the project and the result is a solo suite that reflects the unique position of Munch's work as musical inspiration. The Munch Suite features premiere recordings of 15 pieces specially written by leading contemporary composers including Aaron Jay Kernis, Naji Hakim, Olav Anton Thommessen and Rolf Martinsson. The list includes English composer Peter Seabourne and the British-Russian composer Alissa Firsova, daughter of Elena Firsova.

The work was first heard during the exhibition 'Love's Beach' in 2010 at the Haugar Art Museum near the Åsgårdstrand shores, the place where Munch found motifs for many of his paintings. A small gallery able to accommodate an audience of only 60, each piece was performed in front of 'its own' painting. In connection with the release of the Munch Suite on CD, Kraggerud has developed an exclusive concert performance in which images of the paintings are projected.

Guro Kleven Hagen / Marianna Shirinyan FAIT PLEURER LES SONGES

The pairing of Prokofiev’s first Sonata for Violin and Piano with Poulenc’s Violin Sonata form the core of the repertoire we wanted for this CD. Both sonatas are amongst the most beautiful, most brutal and emotive we know, and we have always had an enormous respect and love for these works. Although at first glance the works may seem an unusual combination, they have much in common, not just in their means of expression, but also in their background. Both sonatas were written as a reaction to the horrors the composers witnessed during the 2nd World War. 

Ravel’s sonata (op.post) was to some extent unknown to both of us at the point when we decided to record the Prokofiev and Poulenc. However, we immediately fell in love with it when we heard it for the first time. It is quite a contrast to the two sombre sonatas, with a youthful credulity and tenderness, and shows characteristics of being written by a young Ravel while Europe was still at peace. 

The choice of these three sonatas, written during two utterly different sets of circumstances, gives a natural “war and peace” theme to the CD. With this in mind, we chose the title “Fait pleurer les songes”, translated into Norwegian as “Får drømmene til å gråte” – “Makes dreams weep”. The title also reflects Poulenc’s violin sonata, where the 2nd movement has the subtitle “La guitare fait pleurer les songes” (the guitar makes dreams weep), taken from a poem by the Spanish poet Garcia Lorca. The sonata is dedicated to Lorca, who was murdered during the Spanish civil war. 

Dreams can be dissolved into tears during the horrors of war. In the same way, as in these three sonatas by Ravel, Poulenc and Prokofiev, music has the ability to make us daydream and to recall our tears and strong emotions. (Guro Kleven Hagen & Marianna Shirinyan)