Saturday 17 October 2020

Edvard Grieg Kor has been inspired by nature when composing this evening's concert programme, which is also a journey through choral works from several countries in the time span 1814 to 2011.

The concert opens with Beethoven's rural and festive cantata from 1814. It was written to celebrate the name day of a friend - "Let us all sing a toast to Giovanni", the lyrics say.

In addition to songs by Beethoven and Clara Schumann, we get to hear two songs by Edward Elgar. His choral works are considered jewels in the British choral tradition.

The evening's Norwegian contribution, both text and music, is "The Wind Blows" by Alfred Jansen, which was written for Det Norske Solistkor and premiered by them in 2017.

Latvia has a rich choral tradition, and Ēriks Ešenvald's work "Stars" for choir and glass is a shining example of how the tradition is developed and lives on today.

The concert is rounded off, and we move towards evening, with Richard Strauss' setting of Friedrich Schiller's poem Der Abend, where the importance of the gentle evening is emphasized - it is for lovers, human and holy, to meet and rest.

Edward Gardner, conductor

Stephen Higgins, piano

Melina Mandozzi, violin

Alexander Kagan, violin

Ilze Klava, viola

Pierre Doumenge, cello

Oddmund Økland, contrabassoon

Edvard Grieg Choir

Håkon Matti Skrede, choir master

Ludwig van Beethoven
Elegies Song
Choir and strings

Ludwig van Beethoven
Cantata Campestre “Un lieto brindisi”
Choir and piano

Clara Schumann, arr: Brandon Williams
Has finally arrived
Ladies' choir and piano

Ludwig van Beethoven
Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur
Choir with piano and string quartet

Edward Elgar
From Four Partsongs
- There is sweet music
-O wild West Wind!
Choir

Alfred Johnson
The wind blows – where it wishes
Choir and violin, cello, contrabassoon

Ēriks Ešenvalds
Stars
Choir with glass

Richard Strauss
From Two songs, op. 34 – Der Abend
Choir

John Rutter
From Birthday Madrigals – When daisies pied
Choir, double bass and piano