Violin concerto
Norwegian Caprice (Rondo) for violin and orchestra
Symphony No. 2 in B minor

Sterling are releasing a collection of works by Ole Hjellemo, a 19th Century composer born in the highest peaks of Norway, as illustrated by the painted cover of this project. These works for Violin Concerto, Violin and Orchestra and Symphony have been performed by the Makris Symphony Orchestra, with Jern Fossheim conducting and Christopher Tun Andersen as Solo Violinist. Irrespective who inspired him, we rarely find clear traces of influence of other composers in Hjellemo?s music. His tonal language is classically rooted, but at the same time it is always his own. Hjellemo appears in many ways to be a solitary being in Norwegian music history, perhaps especially since folk music, which for other Norwegian composers often had an exotic aura, was a learning from his childhood, and was closer to him than any other music. When Hjellemo uses folk music in his works, this therefore appears authentic and genuine. But even when he writes music with no clear connection to folk music, he is completely himself.

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Recording: Zaduzbina Ilije Kolarca, Belgrade, 23-23 & 25 April 2022.