Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890):
5 Lieder nach Gedichten von Heinrich Stieglitz op. 24

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907):
5 selected songs (Wo sind sie hin? op. 4/6, Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen op. 2,3, Des Dichters Herz op. 5,2, Gruß op. 48,1, Ein Traum op. 48,6)

Ture Rangström (1884-1947):
5 selected songs (Gammalsvenskt, Melodi, Pan, Afskedet, Vingar i natten)

Yrjö Kilpinen (1892-1959):
Lieder um den Tod (Songs about death) op. 62

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957):
5 selected songs (Drömmen, I natten, Fafäng önskan, Necken, Til, Frigga)

This recording presents a musical journey through Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. It seeks to present an overview of the rich culture of art song in Northern Europe, much of which remains to be discovered. It is noteworthy that all five composers included on this recording went to study in Germany. Gade and Grieg both enrolled at the conservatory in Leipzig and set most their lied compositions to German poetry. Ture Rangström, Yrjö Kilpinen and Jean Sibelius went to Berlin and – with the exception of Kilpinen – set most of their songs to Swedish poetry. Despite coming from diverse backgrounds and influences, all five composers were united by their passion for the art song, and each sought to establish a distinctive national musical style. The vocal music presented here was composed over the course of 75 years, ranging in style from high and late Romanticism to Neoclassicism. Dominik Wörner, bass-baritone, won first prize in the singing category at the XIII. International Bach Competition 2002 and a special award from the Leipzig Baroque Orchestra. His training concluded with in-depth studies in Irwin Gage’s master class for song interpretation, which he completed with honours, in Zurich. He has made guest appearances in nearly every European country, the USA, Asia and Australia under Thomas Hengelbrock, Philippe Herreweghe, Sigiswald Kuijken or Masaaki Suzuki