Sigurd Lie: Songs, Vol. 2

The songs on Sigurd Lie: Songs, Vol. 2 performed by pianist Nils Anders Mortensen and Mezzo-Soprano Marianne Beate Kielland continues the chronological list from volume 1. The album begins with the remarkably special cycle Wartburg, encompassing an enormous range of singing pathos. The text by Theodor Caspari has to do with Wartburg Castle, with its sweeping history. Martin Luther sought refuge there from May 1521 to March 1522. Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia resided there from 1211 to 1228, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the castle several times, and, notably, the famous “minstrel contest” at the castle was an inspiration for Wagner when he composed his opera Tannhäuser. So it is not so unusual that Theodor Caspari was also inspired by the castle’s history and reputation when he wrote his Wartburg texts. After Wartburg come the last of Sigurd Lie’s published texts: Sange Sub Rosa, Sol-Laug and Sidste Sange. They are followed by songs found as manuscripts and later published in the book Sanger (Songs) from 1999. Here it is interesting to see that Sigurd Lie also tried his hand at Haugtussa songs, and we find them in a National Romantic vein that is seldom seen elsewhere. The remaining unpublished songs we have recorded are much the same as Lie’s other compositions. The album closes with two strophic songs: Staren and Det er et gammelt Kvæde. Sigurd Lie was a central composer in his time, although he had a short life. With the two releases of his Songs we get an insight into why he was predicted to become the new, great, Norwegian composer after Edvard Grieg. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to experience it, but here we can at least enjoy his broad compositional pen in around 75 songs, spread over the two releases.

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Nils Anders Mortensen, Piano Marianne Beate Kielland, Mezzo-Soprano