Albert & Julia

Albert & Julia, a one-hour performance in one act by the Swedish composer Thomas Jennefelt (b. 1954). The opera is composed on Erik Johan Stagnelius’ (1793 – 1823) play with the same name. Stagnelius was a significant Swedish poet and writer during the Romantic period and Albert & Julia, written at the end of his lifetime, is an example of his importance as a dramatic writer.

The present opera was commissioned by the Group for Music Drama at Swedish Radio and was published in 1986. This is Jennefelt’s first larger music dramatic work and has been followed by several all-night operas and chamber operas.

This release is a recording of the opera made by the Swedish Radio in 1987 and the premiere was broadcast in 1988. Thomas Jennefelt and the director Anders Levelius worked with several young, promising Swedish opera singers at the time and on this recording, we hear Lena Hoel (soprano), Mikael Samuelson (baritone), Thomas Sunnegårdh (tenor) as well as the veteran Erik Saedén (bass). Altogether, this makes this release an important and unique time document. Other performers on this amazing recording are the vocal Early Music Group Lamentabile Consort, the Berwald Quartet, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Choir, conducted by Göran Rydberg.

Thomas Jennefelt is also represented on Footprint with the album Nocturnal Singing, featuring, among others, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir and the Royal Swedish Navy Band.