The album "Letters from Scandinavia" aims to make little-known Western classical music from Nordic composers relevant to contemporary culture, similar to how film and commercials popularize classical works.
Composition History
The album's concept was inspired by 19th-century travel writing about Scandinavia, including Mary Wollstonecraft's "Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway & Denmark."
Performer Biography
Sholto Kynoch, the pianist, is the founder and Artistic Director of the Oxford International Song Festival, which won a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2015.
Performer Biography
Joanna Harries, the singer on this album, was born in New Zealand, raised in Wales, and recently finished as a young artist at the National Opera Studio in London.
Recording & Production
The album was recorded from January 15-17, 2024, at SJE Arts, Oxford, UK, using a Steinway Model D piano.
Historical Context
In the 18th century, Scandinavia was largely an unknown travel destination for wealthy British travelers, but this changed in the 19th century due to increased mobility, Romanticism, and the 'Viking Revival'.
Compositional Technique
The album includes commissioned, artfully underscored narrations, with Peter Facer creating musical interludes that use leitmotifs for Norway, Sweden, and Finland, derived from the songs.
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