Folmer Jensen's radio debut, playing solo on an upright piano in a primitive studio, was decisive for his career, as the Head of Broadcasting, Emil Holm, found his playing "eminently suited to the microphone."
Performer Biography
Egil Harder, a pianist born in Oslo, had his first composition published at age 12 in a collection of pieces for teaching children, showcasing his innate sense for a good, well-proportioned tune.
Recording & Production
The first piano concerto broadcast on Danish radio was Kuhlau's C-major Concerto with Folmer Jensen as soloist, which was later transmitted across 27 radio stations in Europe as part of a European radio collaboration.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Niels Viggo Bentzon is impossible to categorize, as he composed in all genres from chamber music to opera, and despite various influences, he always remained true to his own integrity.
Cultural Impact
Two of Egil Harder's songs, "Den blaa Anemone" and "Juletræet med sin Pynt," have become Danish 'evergreens' and are known to all Danes, with the latter becoming part of the traditional Danish Christmas.
Composer Biography
Niels Viggo Bentzon, one of the most prolific Danish composers of the 20th century, received his first piano lessons from his mother, Karen Bentzon, who came from the renowned Hartmann family of musicians and composers.
Recording & Production
Many of the recordings on this album, particularly those of Bach, Mozart, and Brahms, originate from lacquer discs made from live radio broadcasts in the 1950s and early 1960s, a time before tape recorders were common in Denmark.
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