VC Young Artist Johan Dalene’s New Album, “Stained Glass”

Released on BIS Records, the 23-year-old violinist performs with pianist Christian Ihle Hadland on the album

Swedish violinist and VC Young Artist Johan Dalene reunites with pianist Christian Ihle Hadland for their new album, “Stained Glass,” which marks Johan’s fourth studio album and second with Ihle Hadland.

The album features two core works of the 20th century — Ravel’s Sonata in G major for violin and piano, and Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major for violin and piano, Op. 94a. 

Additional tracks include Arvo Pärt’s Fratres; Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne; and Grażyna Bacewicz’s Four Pieces — including Humoresque (1953), Lullaby (1952), Slavonic Dance (1952), and Stained-glass Window (1932).

“Christian Ihle Hadland and I recorded this CD in November 2022, for record company BIS and fantastic producer Jens Braun,” Johan wrote on Facebook. “The album is called ‘Stained Glass,’ which is also the title for one of the pieces from the album composed by Grazyna Bacewicz (”Witraż” in Polish). 

“[Containing] a lot of our favorite music…It’s always such an incredible joy for me to play with Christian, and we had a wonderful few days recording this album!” he added. “If you have some time on your hands, have a listen.”

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

Since his debut album in 2019, Johan has recorded exclusively on BIS Records, which was recently acquired by Apple Music Classical. 

His accolades include the Norwegian Soloist Prize, first prize at the 2019 Carl Nielsen Competition, and Gramophone Young Artist of the Year in 2022. He has since performed with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Konzerthausorchester Berlin, plus in venues including Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall. 

Beginning violin lessons at age four, Johan made his professional concerto debut three years later. Studying at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm with Per Enoksson and Janine Jansen, he has also been mentored by Leif Ove Andsnes, Gidon Kremer, Dora Schwarzberg, Pamela Frank, Gerhard Schulz, and Henning Kraggerud. 

Johan plays on a 1736 Stradivarius violin — generously on loan from the Anders Sveaas’ Charitable Foundation. He is represented by Enticott Music Management in association with IMG Artists.

Since making his professional concerto debut with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra at age 15, Ihle Hadland has since performed with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra; Swedish Radio and Danish National Symphony Orchestras; and the Royal Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo Philharmonics.

In the UK, he has played solo with the Hallé Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Manchester Camerata, in addition to his work with the BBC orchestras as a BBC New Generation Artist.​