HUNDSNES, SVEIN (b. 1951)

Piano Sonata No. 2 • Winter Dances • Nuances de lumière

Laura Mikkola, piano

Norwegian composer Svein Hundsnes has written a considerable number of works ranging from concertos to pieces for young musicians. His piano music is stylistically wide-ranging and occupies a significant place in his oeuvre. Piano Sonata No. 2 exemplifies his practice of working from tiny core motifs as he makes a series of connections between each vivid movement. Syncopated rhythms animate Vinterdanser (‘Winter Dances’) – a sequence of round dances; whereas torches swirling in the air, a cradle song and clouds of illuminated water particles are magically evoked in Nuances de Lumière (‘Shades of Light’). Finnish pianist Laura Mikkola, continues her critically acclaimed discovery, in this second volume of Hundsnes’ piano works.

This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D 274

Tracklist

Piano Sonata No. 2 (2017-19) (00:23:00 )

I. Con moto (00:05:29)

II. Allegro vivo (00:05:36)

III. Pochissimo rubato (00:04:53)

IV. Moderato quasi allegro ma un poco rubato (00:06:58)

Vinterdanser (Winter Dances) (2017-19) (00:19:00 )

I. Molto animato (00:05:32)

II. Allegretto con grazia (00:03:26)

III. Esitante (00:04:18)

IV. Con moto (00:01:01)

V. Moderato con anima (00:04:08)

Nuances de lumière (Shades of Light) (2017-19) (00:17:00 )

I. Jongleurs de feu (Jugglers with Torches) (00:04:30)

II. Prélude et Berceuse (Prelude and Cradle Song) (00:04:09)

III. La Danse des Ombres (Dance of Shadows) (00:03:50)

IV. Une après midi à La Duquesa (Afternoon in La Duquesa) (00:04:01)

Total Time: 00:57:51

The Artist(s)

Laura Mikkola has 64 piano concertos in her repertoire. She has worked with and given the first performances of pieces by numerous composers including David Matthews, Kaija Saariaho, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jouko Tötterström, David Chaillou, Gabriel Yared, Magnus Lindberg and Thomas Adès. Her discography comprises 15 releases, and her album featuring Rautavaara’s Piano Concerto No. 1 was chosen as Editor’s Choice by both Gramophone magazine and Classic FM. Since 2003, she has been the artistic director of the Iitti Music Festival in Finland.

The Composer(s)

The Norwegian composer Svein Hundsnes has an oeuvre encompassing several styles. His orchestral works include a Flute Concerto and Haugtussa for soprano and orchestra. The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra has premiered Symphony No. 1 and Sinfonietta Romantica and the Norwegian Youth Symphony Orchestra premiered Signale Orchestrale. Hundsnes received the national Norwegian state scholarship for composers 1990– 92, and subsequently taught music theory and composition at the University of Stavanger for two decades. His chamber works include String Quartet No. 1, String Quartet No. 2, His Majesty’s Sound Amusement for wind quintet, Rilke Lieder for baritone and chamber ensemble, Clarinet Quintet, Six Songs, First Suite for Accordion, and Second Suite for Accordion. Other works include the ballet Borobudur for electronics, Three Norwegian Peasant Dances for piano, Brass Quintet, Moonlight Maidens for female choir, Backstreet Symphony for symphonic band, Sevilla Suite, Suite for Clarinet and Piano, Transoboic Fusion for oboe and symphonic band, Cello Quartet, and Violin Quartet, premiered by members of the Tromsoe Symphony Orchestra. Svein Hundsnes has also written music dedicated to young musicians published by Norsk Musikforlag.

Reviews

“Pianist Laura Mikkola plays flawlessly, whether in the wonderful colors and intermediate tones of the two impressionist pieces or in the more virtuosic and adventurous sonata, her playing is convincing at every moment with clarity, assurance, and a brilliant skill that is both technical and interpretive.” – Pizzicato

Also Available

“Laura Mikkola is brilliant here, working with nuance and clarity and just the right amount of emotion for this beautiful and intense work.” — American Record Guide

“This is a very well-played and in many ways exceptionally interesting release, featuring not only first-rate pianism but also very fine accompaniment by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under Kerry Stratton. The transcriptions and the Evju concerto here receive their world première recordings and are well worth listening to—not just once but repeatedly.” — Infodad.com

“He [Knoph] makes it so good that you immediately love the album. …The wonderful sound of the recording contributes a lot to the listening pleasure. ” — Piano News