Nordic music, like the landscapes of the North, is characterized by its very own hues of light – mysterious colors from a twilight universe in new shades. In AURORA, BREEZE interpretes compositions by Nordic composers who set the moods of their homeland to floating sounds. In addition to the quintet by the great Danish symphonist Carl Nielsen, the program also includes works by Anders Hillborg and Kalevi Aho, two of Northern Europe’s leading contemporary composers. Three short solo pieces by Mason, Bjornvedt and Aho bring out the characters of the different woodwind instruments. The program is rounded off by imaginative arrangements for woodwind quintet by the incomparable Icelandic songwriter Björk. In the concert version with (optional) video installation by video artist Paul Biessmann, AURORA becomes an all-round-experience, in which nature and light merge.
AURORA, the northern lights
Jill Jeschek, flute
Juri Vallentin, oboe
Annelien Van Wauwe, clarinet
Marceau Lefèvre, bassoon
Přemysl Vojta, horn
Paul Biessmann, video artist (optional)
Björk (1965-) Ouverture
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023) Duft – for solo clarinet
Björk Pneumonia
Kaja Bjørntvedt (1981- ) Ut, for alto flute & electronics
Anders Hilborg (1954–) Six Pieces for Wind Quintet I – II – III Idyll IV with fury V very calm VI –
— interval —
Björk (1965–) Jóga
Sebastian Fagerlund (1972–) Woodlands, for bassoon solo
Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) Wind Quintet op. 43 > 27’ I Allegro ben moderato II Menuet III Praeludium – Theme with Variations