Benjamin Britten:
Quatre Chansons françaises (Four French Songs)
Les Illuminations, Op. 18

Marie-Joseph Canteloube de Malaret:
From ‘Chants d’Auvergne’ (Songs of the Auvergne)
A Selection of Songs from:
Premiere Série (First Series, 1923)
Deuxieme Série (Second Series, 1923)
Troisieme Série (Third Series, 1927). A Madeleine Grey
Quatrieme Série (Fourth Series, 1930). A Étienne Clémentel
Cinquieme Série (Fifth Series, 1954). A Lucie Dolene

Following successful appearances at the Opéracomique, in Paris, Grand Théâtre de Geneve, Oper Frankfurt, Komische Oper Berlin, and Teatro alla Scala, in Milan, the Norwegian soprano Mari Eriksmoen is undoubtedly a rising star. On the concert stage she has made important recent appearances with the Orchestre de Paris, Berliner Philharmoniker, Oslo Philharmonic, and Münchner Philharmoniker, among others. Here she joins the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Edward Gardner for a powerful album of orchestral songs, coupling Britten’s Les Illuminations and Four French Songs with a selection of Canteloube’s inimitable Songs of the Auvergne.

Eriksmoen spent a year studying in Paris, and proves an effective and natural singer in the French language. As she mentions in her programme note: ‘It is highly demanding to sing in French when it is not one’s native tongue, but I have always felt at home when singing in French and nurture an emotional attachment to the French language.’

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Recording: Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway; 12 and 13 February 2021 (Les Illuminations) and 21 – 23 June 2021 (other works).