Christmas From Norway
Lise Davidsen (soprano)
Norwegian Soloists Choir; Norwegian National Opera Children’s Choir
Norwegian Radio Orchestra/Christian Eggen
rec. 2022, Jar kirke, Oslo, Norway
Texts in original languages with English translations
Decca 4854358 [50]
A new CD of Christmas Carols featuring one of the world’s most currently celebrated opera stars would have made a great option for a Christmas gift this past December; unfortunately the review copy only arrived in my mailbox in mid-January which means that my review has already missed the rush of holiday purchasing. This is a pity because this CD is a delightful mix of old favorites combined with Norwegian carols that will be new territory for many listeners, as it was for me.
As I write this, Lise Davidsen is a soprano who seems to have the entire classical music world at her feet. Her penetrating soprano is much in demand in opera houses and concert halls alike. The release of this disc could not have been timelier. The fact that it turns out to be much more than just another vanity holiday CD for an opera singer is an additional bonus.
Things begin well with a version of Adam’s cantique de Noël (O Holy Night) sung in Norwegian. It turns out to be an excellent choice because it demonstrates right off that Davidsen’s powerful voice practically seems to detach itself from her central position in the sound field and emanates from l around the church which hosted the sessions. It is a remarkable effect that is replicated on the CD as one listens, enthralled by the magic of it. For those who would prefer to hear this carol in English, it has been separately recorded and presented at the end of the CD.
Once or twice as I listened there seemed to be the threat that Ms Davidsens’ voice could become too powerful and overwhelm the song she was singing but it never quite happens; Humperdinck’s Weihnachten is a good example of this. Frequently Davidsen displays real sensitivity to what she is singing. There is a charmingly intimate arrangement by David Cullen of Silent Night, in English; in which the soprano negotiates some exquisite portamenti. One might think a large voice would be unable to produce such delicate effects but Davidsen proves that is well within her vocal armoury. As it is, her Silent Night is one of the highlights of this disc.
Scandinavian songs fill up about half of the CD and they will be a novelty to most listeners. There is a haunting, elegiac carol called Jul, jul, strålande jul, in which the soprano enchants us with her simple rendition. Another unfamiliar treat is the gentle strophes of the song Deilig er jorden. I found the unfamiliar carol by Jean Sibelius to be most interesting, mainly because it consists of a vocal line that emerges in clipped phrases which when assembled together constitute a very moving whole.
Although most of the CD is a stunning success, there are a few minor points worth mentioning. In Reger’s Cradle Song, Davidsen’s voice does begin to overwhelm such a delicate piece in the opening lines, although she quickly recovers when she refines her tone down to the merest fil di voce for a stunningly poised conclusion to the song. While conductor Christian Eggen provides firm support throughout the disc the piece from the Bach cantata sounds a little hurried to my ears. Some listeners might be put off by Davidsen’s lightly accented English, something that I find to be quite charming. One only has to listen to a carol such as O Come All ye Faithful to see her musical intelligence at work in the way she varies her phrasing of each of the repetitive verses. She has clearly put much time and thought into how to sing such music making any quaint pronunciation a minor point at most.
Decca has provided a warmly resonant sound which envelops Ms Davidsen’s voice to perfection. The combined Norwegian choirs have to a large degree been recessed, leaving a sort of musical halo effect surrounding the soprano. I find the balance thoroughly effective. All together this is one of the most thoughtfully presented Christmas CDs that I have encountered in several years. If it is too late for it to make it under the tree for 2023, make sure that it finds a place there for 2024.
Mike Parr
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Contents
Adam: O, helga natt (Cantique de Noel), arr. by Douglas Gamley & Chris Hazell
Humperdinck: Weihnachten, arr. by Charles Mackerras
Gruber, F: Silent Night, arr. by David Cullen
Nordqvist: Jul, jul, strålande jul, arr. by Christian Eggen
trad.: Deilig er jorden (Fairest Lord Jesus), arr. by Christian Eggen
trad.: Mitt hjerte alltid vanker, arr. by Christian Eggen
Sibelius: Julvisa, arr. by Christian Eggen
Bach, J S: Jesu, bleibet meine Freude (from Cantata BWV147 ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben’)
Reger: Mariä Wiegenlied, Op. 76 No. 52,
Gounod: Ave Maria,
Wolf, H: Schlafendes Jesuskind (No. 25 from Mörike-Lieder),
trad.: The First Nowell, arr. by Luther Henderson
Wade, J F: O come, all ye faithful, arr. by Douglas Gamley & Chris Hazell
Adam: O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel), arr. by Douglas Gamley & Chris Hazell
