Arctic Eldbjorg Hemsing Artist

Casual browsers of this release by violinist {|Eldbjorg Hemsing|} might expect something like the Alaskan landscapes of composer {|John Luther Adams|}. In reality, the music is less rigorous but not necessarily less effective; the six-movement {|Arct... Read more

Casual browsers of this release by violinist {|Eldbjorg Hemsing|} might expect something like the Alaskan landscapes of composer {|John Luther Adams|}. In reality, the music is less rigorous but not necessarily less effective; the six-movement {|Arctic Suite|} that opens the program is by Hollywood composer {|Jacob Shea|}, featuring lightly evocative scenes of the region, including the grim (but only slightly different stylistically) Sea Ice Melting as a finale. Violinist {|Eldbjorg Hemsing|} and the {|Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra|} certainly have the technical chops to pull off the rather minimal textures of the music on the album; the orchestra, based in Trondheim, is one of Europe's unsung small regional ensembles. Perhaps the most interesting pieces are the shorter ones that fill out the album. There are two by composer {|Frode Fjellheim|}, the first of which, {|The Return of the Sun|}, seems to refer more strongly to Sami musical styles. Most intriguing is the way works from the Scandinavian classical tradition, by {|Grieg|}, {|Einojuhani Rautavaara|}, and even {|Ole Bull|}, fit seamlessly with the new music on the program. It is as if there is an {|Arctic|} thread that runs through the whole tradition. At any rate, listeners who enjoy broad, atmospheric orchestral music will find a pleasing and intriguing example of the genre here. This release appeared on classical best-seller charts in early 2023. ~ James Manheim Less