OUT NOW | Violinist VC Young Artist Johan Dalene's New CD: "Nordic Rhapsody"

Recorded with pianist Christian Ihle Hadland, the disc features works by six Nordic composers

BIS Records announced the release of Swedish violinist Johan Dalene's new album, entitled "Nordic Rhapsody."

The disc features Sinding's Suite for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 10 "im alten Stil," Stenhammar's Two Sentimental Romances for Violin and Orchestra Op. 28, Sibelius' Six Pieces Op. 79, Nielsen's Romance in D major for Violin and Piano, Rautavaara's Notturno e Danza, and Grieg's Violin Sonata No. 1 in F major Op. 8.

"Much of the music featured on this album was written in the period when Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland were all searching for a national identity," said the 20-year-old Nielsen International Violin Competition 1st prize winner.

"I think one can hear those special Nordic characteristics echoed in each of these works. Even though all the music feels connected in that sense, the individual pieces are very different in style and feeling."

"The Grieg Sonata is full of youthfulness and charm, the Rautavaara is dreamy and mystical, while the suite by Sinding is more of a sparkling virtuoso piece. Nielsen’s Romance is a youthful work which shows the composer’s 'lighter' side and is an absolutely wonderful little musical praline that really deserves to be performed more often."

Nordic Rhapsody

Johan Dalene, violin

Christian Ihle Hadland, piano

Label: BIS

Release Date: March 5, 2021