Awake O North Wind

“Here’s a novelty; a program of Nordic fare I’m actually going to hang onto.” Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide

Awake O North Wind is a heartfelt and atmospheric journey through some of the finest unaccompanied Swedish and Norwegian choral works of the last two centuries, with an emphasis on music by living composers. The miniature masterpieces that are Sven-David Sansdström’s Four Songs of Love form the backbone of the programme and are spread among works by Wilhelm Stenhammar, Knut Nystedt, Trond Kverno, Karin Rehnqvist and others, with spine-tingling arrangements of Swedish and Norwegian folk songs included too.

The Stockholms Music Gymnasium Chamber Choir has recorded for film soundtracks and appeared with artists including Andrea Bocelli. The ensemble’s full, rounded sound and intense clarity at high registers is revealed fully on its new recording, whose programme of repertoire members of the ensemble shaped under Stureborg’s guidance. ‘These young musicians have so much to give’, says the conductor. ‘They take responsibility, they are so focussed and they want so much from the music. I love to work with them!’ Awake O North Wind is a snapshot of both human awakening and burgeoning talent, with all the excitement inherent in both.