Album

From the quiet intimacy of Hugo Alfven's Så tag mit hjärte (So Take My Heart) to the irresistible vigor of Gustaf Nordqvist's Til havs (On the Sea), this collection of 33 songs by middle to late twentieth century Swedish composers showcases Anne-Sofie von Otter at her most luminous. The acclaimed Swedish mezzo soprano offers up her characteristic freshness and lyricism in a collection that is ultimately both challenging and utterly listenable. As with her 1996 recording of earlier Swedish songs, Wings in the Night, this recording also features pianist Bengt Forsberg, and their longtime collaboration is evident in the fluid seamlessness of each performance. The final song, Bo Linde's May We Be Happy, is the only English-language selection on the disc; its wistful melancholy leaves the impression of a final toast before the end of a pleasant gathering of friends. In all, a rare experience, and subsequent listenings only serve to improve it.

© Maeve Sullivan, All Music Guide

CD 1
Lars-Erik Larsson Composer Nine Songs, for voice & piano, Op.35 Work 6:16 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
1	9.Kyssande vind (Kiss of the Wind)	2:05			$0.99
2	5.För vilsna fötter sjunger gräset (Grass sings under wandering feet)	2:07			$0.99
3	7.Skyn, blomman och en lärka (The Cloud, the Flower and the Lark)	2:04			$0.99
Hugo Alfvén Composer Peonies, Op.22 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
4	Peonies, Op.22	3:22			$0.99
Hugo Alfvén Composer Saa tag mit Hjerte (Take my heart) Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
5	Saa tag mit Hjerte (Take my heart)	3:25			$0.99
Gösta Nystroem Composer 3 Songs Work 7:14 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
6	1.På reveln (On the Reef)	3:33			$0.99
7	2.Otrolig dag (Amazing day)	1:10			$0.49
8	3.Havet sjunger (The Song of the Sea)	2:31			$0.99
Ture Rangström Composer En gammal dansrytm (Old dance), for voice & piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
9	En gammal dansrytm (Old dance), for voice & piano	1:28			$0.49
Ture Rangström Composer Den enda Stunden (A moment in time), for voice & piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
10	Den enda Stunden (A moment in time), for voice & piano	2:23			$0.99
Gustaf Nordqvist Composer Songs (3), for voice & piano (1922) Work 4:44 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
11	1.Sipporna (The Anemones)	1:13			$0.49
12	2.Jag ville vara tårar (If I could be tears)	1:06			$0.49
13	3.Till havs (On the Sea)	2:25			$0.99
Gunnar de Frumerie Composer Hjärtats sånger (Songs of the Heart), for voice and piano, Op.27 Work 12:36 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
14	1.När du sluter mina ögon (When you close my eyes)	2:28			$0.99
15	2.Det blir vackert där du går (You make everything beautiful)	2:17			$0.99
16	3.Saliga väntan (Blessed it is to wait)	1:38			$0.49
17	4.Ur djupet av min ajäl (From the depths of my soul)	2:47			$0.99
18	5.Du är min Afrodite (You are my Aphrodite)	1:17			$0.49
19	6.Som en våg (Like a wave)	2:09			$0.99
Bo Linde Composer Songs (2) for voice & piano Work 3:06 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
20	2.Den ängen där du kysste mig (The meadow where you kissed me)	1:48			$0.49
21	1. Äppelträd och päronträd (Apple-trees and Pear-trees)	1:18			$0.49
Tor Aulin Composer Och riddaren for uti österland (And the knight rode to the Holy Land), Op.31, No.1 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
22	Och riddaren for uti österland (And the knight rode to the Holy Land), Op.31, No.1	2:34			$0.99
Tor Aulin Composer 4 Serbian Folksongs Work 6:07 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
23	1.Till en ros (To a Rose)	1:35			$0.49
24	2.Vinter i hjertat (Winter in My Heart)	1:34			$0.49
25	3.Hvad vill jag? (What do I want?)	1:19			$0.49
26	4.Domen (The Judgment)	1:39			$0.49
Gunnar de Frumerie Composer Nu är det sommarmorgon (A Summer Morning), for voice & piano, Op.60B Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
27	Nu är det sommarmorgon (A Summer Morning), for voice & piano, Op.60B	2:55			$0.99
Ture Rangström Composer Serenad, for voice & piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
28	Serenad, for voice & piano	2:27			$0.99
Ture Rangström Composer Sköldmön (The Amazon), for voice and piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
29	Sköldmön (The Amazon), for voice and piano	2:17			$0.99
Bo Linde Composer Songs (4) for voice & piano Work 12:00 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
30	1. Är jag intill döden trött (I am tired to death)	2:36			$0.99
31	2. Är det du, allra käraste barn (Is it you, most beloved child)	2:37			$0.99
32	3.Tag mig (Take me)	3:52			$0.99
33	4.May we be happy (Lass uns glücklich sein)	2:55			$0.99