Peter Herresthal - Eivind Buene Violin Concerto & Miniatures - Rolf Wallin Under City Skin & Appearances (2018) [24/96]

Following his 2001 disc of works by Arne Nordheim, Norwegian violinist Peter Herresthal and BIS have collaborated on the project ’A String of Releases’ – recordings of contemporary violin concertos, in several cases written especially for Herresthal. Featured composers so far have been Olav Anton Thommessen, Henrik Hellstenius and Ørjan Matre – all from Norway – as well as Thomas Adès and Per Nørgård. Utterly fearless in his approach to these complex works, Herresthal has received recognition for his recordings, earning a Spellemannprisen (the ‘Norwegian Grammy’) as well as being shortlisted for a Gramophone Award.

The present, amply-filled addition to Herresthal’s ‘string’ features the composers Rolf Wallin (b. 1957) and Eivind Buene (b. 1973). Wallin – one of Scandinavia’s leading composers – has for Herresthal made a version of Under City Skin, his 2009 concerto for viola and ensemble. The work is a poetic and sonic journey through an imaginary cityscape, with the solo violin and the string orchestra playing off and with a pre-recorded soundtrack. Buene’s Violin Concerto was also conceived with Herresthal in mind. With suggestive individual titles – Falling Angels, Sound Asleep and Among Voices – its three movements are each scored for a different combination of chamber orchestral forces. They can be played separately, but together they form a haunting triptych of melancholy and memory. Supporting Herresthal in the concertos are the conductor Øyvind Bjorå and musicians from the Arctic Philharmonic, in two different configurations: as a chamber orchestra and a sinfonietta. Bjorå and the Sinfonietta also perform Wallin’s Appearances and Buene’s Miniatures, for 15 and 16 musicians respectively.

Tracklist:
01. Under City Skin: I. High-heeled Shoes
02. Under City Skin: II. The Park at Night
03. Under City Skin: III. Locomotive
04. Under City Skin: IV. Pastorale
05. Appearances (Version for 15 Instruments)
06. Miniatures: No. 1, —
07. Miniatures: No. 2, —
08. Miniatures: No. 3, —
09. Miniatures: No. 4, —
10. Miniatures: No. 5, —
11. Miniatures: No. 6, —
12. Violin Concerto: I. Falling Angels
13. Violin Concerto: II. Sound Asleep
14. Violin Concerto: III. Among Voices of the Dead

Personnel:
Peter Herresthal, violin
Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
Arctic Philharmonic Sinfonietta
Øyvind Bjorå, conductor