BDLP 7001 - J.S.BACH: FIRE MOTETTER / Bergen Cathedral Choir / cond. Magnar Mangersnes

Fürchte dich nicht (BW 228) / Lobet den Herrn (BW 230)c / Komm, Jesu, komm (BW 229) / Sei Lob und Preis (BW 231)"

...unstrained, but precise tone formation...Bach's often complicated contrapuntal structures are made manifest with model clarity...sound tracks of remarkably high quality." Johan Kvandal in Aftenposten.

BDLP 7004 - DOUBLE DELIGHT / Gro Sandvik (flute), Stein-Erik Olsen (guitar)

Poulenc: Trois mouvements perpètuels / Bozza: Polydiaphonie / Rovsing Olsen: Dance èlègiaque

"If you are not afraid of contemporary music, you should get this fine recording. Apart from the sterling performances, it gets away from the beaten track with some good music by little-known but very worthwhile composers... Excellent surfaces..." Colin Cooper in Classical Guitar

BDCD 7005 - SCANDINAVIA / Bergen Cathedral Choir / cond. Magnar Mangersnes

Arild Sandvold: Five Latin Church Choirs / Carl Nielsen: Three Latin Motets, Op.55 / Otto Olsson: Six Latin Hymns, Op.40

Three prominent Scandinavian composers of church music, anchored in the ideals of romanticism and neoclassicism. Performed by Norway's no.1 elite choir of mixed voices.

BDCD 7006 - AVE MARIS STELLA / The Valen Choir / cond.Sverre Valen / A.Rodvelt Olsen, org.

Gade / Grieg / Elgar / Vierne / Scarlatti / Byrd/ Stanford / Bruckner / Mendelsohn-Bartholdy etc.

The "Grand Old Man" of Norwegian Choral music, Sverre Valen, conducting his large choir of mixed voices in a repertoire of favourites within sacred music.

BDCD 7008 - HALLELUJA / Sandefjord Girls' Choir / cond.Sverre Valen

Mozart: Laudate Dominum /Händel: Halleluia Choir/ Franck: Panis Angelicus / Dvorak: Goin'Home / negro spirituals etc.

After a concert in Carnegie Hall this choir was hailed as "something of a national treasure" by The New York Times, and praised for "the sheer beauty and transparency of its choral sound." A repertoire of pearls of devotional music.

BDCD 7011 - UNDERET / THE MIRACLE / Bergen Cathedral Choir (mixed voices)/ cond.Magnar Mangersnes

Johan Kvandal, op.69 (1986), text:Arnold Eidslott, Draumkvæde, op.15 (1955)

One of Kvandal's central and most powerful compositions, and among the best Norwegian choral compositions of this century. Also psalms, lyric songs and music to mediaeval texts.

BDCD 7013 - HYMN TO FREEDOM / Sandefjord Girls' Choir / cond. Sverre Valen

Händel / Brahms / Elgar / Denza / Secunda / Folks songs / Negro spirituals / Oscar Peterson

Since 1969 this choir has won 17 first prizes in national and international contests. On this CD the choir sings popular compositions and folk tunes from different parts of the world, all relating to the theme of freedom.

BDCD 7014 - FROM FATHER BACH TO FATHER JOHN / The Valen Soloist Ensemble / cond. Sverre Valen / Jorunn Marie Bratlie (piano).

A string of favourites, opening with Bach's cantata no.78, "Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten". The ensemble is recruited from the most talented members of Sandefjord Girls' Choir.

BDCD 7016 - ...GO RING THEM BELLS ! / Bergen Lærerhøgskoles Ungdomskor (female voices) / The Bergen Teacher's Training College Youth Choir / cond.Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo

Negro spirituals / Hovland / Nystedt / Debussy / Carl-Bertil Agnestig etc.

"This choir is a sensation !"- Arild Erikstad, head of Norwegian TV's Music Department. / "It is a fantastic experience to listen to this choir !"- Grethe Haugland, experienced judge of choral competitions.

BDCD 7017 - JULEKVAD / MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS / Bergen Cathedral Choir (mixed voices) / cond. Magnar Mangersnes / Tor Grønn (organ).

Christmas music from seven centuries, still part of the living tradition of western Norway. From folk songs, Praetorius, Adeste Fideles, via Grieg and Alnæs, to contemporary composers such as Nystedt, Hovland and Mørk Karlsen.

BDCD 7018 - SLÅTTER FRÅ TORGER OLSTADS NOTEBOK / RURAL DANCE MUSIC AFTER TORGER OLSTAD / Per Sæmund Bjørkum (violin)/ Jon Faukstad (accordion)

Traditional dance music from Gudbrandsdalen, as handed down from two master fiddlers: Hans Vineshaugen (1831-1909) and Torger Olstad (1864-1941). Dølaringen Boklag, Lillehammer, has published the scores (1995). Six stars for this CD in Spelemannsbladet.

BDCD 7020 - DON'T EXPLAIN - BILLY HOLIDAY IN MEMORIAM / Suzanne Fuhr sings Billy Holiday tunes, accompanied by Dag Arnesen (piano) a.o. Odd Børretzen reads his own texts (in Norwegian).

A very special production which has achieved something of a cult status.

BDCD 7021 - CONTRASTS / Marilena Zlatanou, mezzosoprano / Heather Slade-Lipkin, piano.

Brahms: 8 Sigeunerlieder, op.103 / Ravel: 5 melodies populaires greques / Rossini: Giovanna D'Arco / Britten: A Charm of Lullabies, op.41 / Cecilie Ore: Calliope (for solo voice)

Zlatanou, born in Greeece, studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and The State Opera School in Oslo. Her debut recital in Oslo in 1979 received outstanding reviews.

BDCD 7022 - GRIEG IN OUR HEARTS / The Valen Soloist Ensemble / cond. Sverre Valen / Eir Inderhaug (soprano) / Jorunn Marie Bratlie (piano) / arranged by Else Berntsen Aas.

Edvard Grieg: 23 songs

This fresh and inspired CD is a birthday present from Sverre Valen and his elite choir for the celebration of Grieg's 150th anniversary in 1993. Includes Solveig's song, To Spring (O.43/6), Butterfly (Op.43/1), and The Spring.

BDCD 7023 - PÅ FOLKEMUNNE / NORWEGIAN FOLK TUNES / Sandefjord Girls' Choir / cond. Sverre Valen / Eir Inderhaug (soprano)/ Jorunn Marie Bratlie (piano).

Our most treasured heirlooms: traditional folk songs and familiar hymns, from the Middle Ages to the present time.

BDCD 7024 - FRENCH MOODS / Con Spirito (mixed voices)/ cond.Helge Birkeland.

On this CD, which reviewers have praised unanimously as exquisite, the repetoire consists of 23 songs by 8 central French composers, from the 15th to the 20th century.

BDCD 7026 - GJØVIK SINFONIETTA / Gjøvik Sinfonietta / cond.Rolf Bækkelund / Eva Knardahl (piano) / Atle Sponberg (violin).

Sparre Olsen: 6 Old Rural Songs from Lom / Klaus Egge: Piano Concerto no.2 / Josef Suk: Serenade for Strings, op.6

"This is the most honest and engaging CD I have heard in a long time." Kjell Hillveg, Aftenposten 26.8.95 . The only version of Egge's Piano Concerto available on CD.

Songwriter with own texts in Norwegian, and a warm, lyrical expression. Winner of the first Prøysen Prize. Excellent piano-playing by James Dickenson.

Grieg: Holberg Suite / Bibalo: Sonata quasi una fantasia / Kvandal: Sonata, op.71 / Plagge: Facsimiles, op.66

Jon Faukstad, professor and master accordionist, has made a daring version of Grieg's well-known suite - for his own instrument. The three contemporary Norwegian composers have all written their works for the accordion. An unusual CD of high standard, which has been very well received by reviewers. A World Premier Recording.

Malambo, Danzas Argentinas, Suite de Danzas Criollas, Sonatas no.1 and 2, Doce Preludios Americanos.

Gisela Herb, piano, has studied Ginastera's piano music at the Conservatory in Buenos Aires. "...Gisela Herb's talent, temperament and intuition let her deeply captivate the work of Ginastera". (Julio Fainguersch)

BDCD 7030 - JAZZ FROM THE GALLERY / James Dickenson, church organ and piano, Peter Glennon (el. bass), Dave Hassell (drums).

Duke Ellington, Norwegian folk-tunes and American popular music.

This CD opens with 5 Ellington compositions on the wonderful Sør-Fron church organ . The 2nd part consists of piano improvisations, the third of an elegant jazz trio. Fats Waller and Count Basie tried without success, but James Dickenson has made headlines by the way he gets the church organ to really swing. An exceptional CD.

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