Album

With this CD, Anne Sofie von Otter and Bengt Forsberg make a welcome (and unconventional) contribution to the deluge of Christmas music that appears every year. This collection of mostly obscure songs and piano solos should be of strong interest to those looking to expand their collection of Christmas music beyond the relentlessly recycled standards. The CD includes music by composers of widely diverse nationalities—Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, Finnish, British, French, German, Italian, and Cuban. The music, apart from the selections of Bach cantatas, will be new to most listeners. Except for the Bach, the pieces are largely written in late romantic and early twentieth century styles, with gratifying vocal lines and lush piano accompaniments.

Von Otter brings such vocal purity and such nuanced expression to her interpretation of each of these songs that it is difficult to single out individual pieces; each one is sung persuasively and lovingly. If pressed, special attention could be called to Walter Ehret's haunting arrangement of the English folk song So Blest a Sight and Joaquín Nin y Castellano's set of lively villancicos. Bengt Forsberg provides von Otter with piano accompaniment that matches the eloquence of her performance, and he is featured in several solos. The warmth of the recorded sound perfectly suits von Otter's voice and the mood of the music.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Gustaf Nordqvist Composer Jul, jul, strålande jul (Christmas, Christmas, Glorious Christmas) Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
1	Jul, jul, strålande jul (Christmas, Christmas, Glorious Christmas)	1:59			$0.49
Ivar Widéen Composer Gläns över sjö och strand, song Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
2	Gläns över sjö och strand, song	1:42			$0.49
Swedish Traditional Composer Pris vare Gud! (Praise Be to God!), hymn Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
3	Pris vare Gud! (Praise Be to God!), hymn	1:51			$0.49
Agathe Ursula Backer-Gröndahl Composer Melody, for voice and piano, Op.41, No.5 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
4	Melody, for voice and piano, Op.41, No.5	2:34			$0.99
Sergey Lyapunov Composer Fêtes de Noël (Sviatki), quatre tableaux for piano Op.41 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
5	3.Chanteurs de Noël	2:04			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Christmas Songs, Op.1 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
6	2.Now Is Christmas Coming	1:59			$0.49
Jean Sibelius Composer We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare (Giv mig ej glans), for male chorus, Op.1, No.4 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
7	We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare (Giv mig ej glans), for male chorus, Op.1, No.4	3:02			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Pieces for Piano Op.75 ('The Trees') Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
8	5.The Spruce	2:23			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Julens Vuggesang (Yuletide Cradle Song), EG 155 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
9	Julens Vuggesang (Yuletide Cradle Song), EG 155	2:16			$0.99
Percy Grainger Composer Blithe Bells (Ramble on Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze'), for 2 pianos Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
10	Blithe Bells (Ramble on Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze'), for 2 pianos	4:00			$0.99
Roger Quilter Composer The Cradle in Bethlehem Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
11	The Cradle in Bethlehem	2:23			$0.99
Michael Head Composer The Three Mummers, for voice & piano Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
12	The Three Mummers, for voice & piano	3:08			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig (English Mummers' Carol) Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
13	There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig (English Mummers' Carol)	2:05			$0.99
Christmas Traditional Composer So Blest A Sight (English) Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
14	So Blest A Sight (English)	2:53			$0.99
Cécile Chaminade Composer Le Noël des oiseaux ('Petit Jésus maître du ciel') Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
15	Le Noël des oiseaux ('Petit Jésus maître du ciel')	2:37			$0.99
Charles Gounod Composer Noël, for soprano, alto, female chorus and piano with organ ad lib. Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
16	Noël, for soprano, alto, female chorus and piano with organ ad lib.	2:55			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer 5 Esquisses, Op.114 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
17	2.Winter Scene	1:43			$0.49
Max Reger Composer Schlichte Weisen, 60 Lieder, Op.76 (includes 'Maria Wiegenlied') Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
18	52.Maria Wiegenlied (The Virgin's Slumber Song)	2:21			$0.99
Peter Cornelius Composer Weihnachtslieder, Op.8 Work 6:40 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
19	1.Christbaum	1:30			$0.49
20	2.Die Hirten	2:20			$0.99
21	3.Die Könige	2:50			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Cantata No.147: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Visitation), BWV147 (includes 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring')...10.Chorale: Jesus bleibt meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring) Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
22	10.Chorale: Jesus bleibt meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; various arrangements)	3:03			$0.99
Joaquin Nin Composer 10 Villancicos españolas, for voice and piano Work 6:56 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
23	Villancico Vasco	1:45			$0.49
24	Villancico Castellano	1:19			$0.49
25	Villancico de Córdoba	2:03			$0.99
26	Villancico Andaluz	1:49			$0.49
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV469 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
27	Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier, BWV469	1:38			$0.49
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Nun kommt, der Heiden Heiland, BWV659 Work Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
28	Nun kommt, der Heiden Heiland, BWV659	4:22			$0.99