Caroline Ridderstolpe's music remained virtually unknown for almost 200 years, until Anna Paradiso rediscovered it as part of her research into nineteenth-century Swedish salon music. Born in Berlin, Ridderstolpe received an extensive musical education that included singing, instrument-playing and composition. After her marriage to a member of the Swedish aristocracy, she settled in Sweden, participated in the salons held at the royal court and socialised with some of the finest musicians, writers and painters of her time. Ridderstolpe mainly composed songs and pieces for solo piano that belong to the genre of salon music which, far from being mediocre as is sometimes claimed, actually allows greater intimacy with the listeners.

Tusmørke, arguably the most atavistically trollish, acid-drenched musical act ever to come out of the kingdom of Norway makes yet another eternal return, this time to take the fellow traveller on a subterranean expedition to the kingdom of the Fair Folk! Dawn of Oberon is the band’s 12th album, released 12 years after their debut “Underjordisk Tusmørke” (2012). 12-12-12 - That makes this album twice as occult as 666.

Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Troika has been serving up their melodic, progressive pop/rock with poignant lyrics in Norwegian for more than a decade. After the critically acclaimed “I speilvendthet” (2017) and “Tre ut” (2019), their long awaited third album “Strobemørke” is finally coming in August 2024.

Anders Eby conducts the Mikaeli Chamber Choir and a cast of acclaimed soloists on this programme dedicated to works by composer Olov Olofsson. Originally recorded in 1975 for Swedish audiophile label Proprius, the album has been remastered by 2xHD for the high-resolution music lover.

This disc is a delight - and produced with typical BIS thoroughness. Det Norske Solistkor (The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir) has been in existence since 1950, and Grete Pedersen is only its second director, having assumed that position in 1990. The 26 singers are all professionals, and they sound it. The solo and ensemble work heard on this disc is exemplary.

NODEBOG presents musical pleasures and "divertissements" from 18th century Norway. The melodies are found in hand-written music books containing both international "hits" well known throughout Europe and local favourites - Halling dances and Pols dances are featured alongside minuets, marches and English country dances. These rediscovered treasures from the past can only be recreated through living performance today, here by flautist Hans Olav Gorset and his fellow musicians. These melodies may not seem important to the music historian, but to the listener they certainly are - being international "hits" of yesterday - and, who knows, perhaps becoming the hits of today.

It was the work with the CD release "Spellstenen" that started the process of a new book to take care of, and convey the folk songs from the old county of Hedmark to children as well.

Sven-David Sandström has acknowledged that it was thanks to Ingmar Månsson he began composing for choir. All the pieces are simply wonderful choral writing and the sound of this release is terrific. This is very demanding music and the level of vocal virtuosity that Peter Dijkstra elicits from the singers, collectively, is breathtaking.

Following on the success of their Nordic Sounds release, Peter Dijkstra and the Swedish Radio Choir return with a second volume of music in the series, this time focusing on the use of traditional Swedish folk songs in contemporary choral music. The disc's repertoire ranges from Jan Sandstrom's arrangements of improvised folk songs of the Sami people - whose singing is among the earliest continuing vocal traditions of Europe - to recent works such as the sixteen-part Kosijat by Jaakko Mantyjarvi, one of the best-known contemporary composers in Finland. The disc concludes with Anders Hillborg's twelve-minute Muoayiayaoum which explores a phonetic sequence of vowels that open and close. The level of vocal virtuosity that Dijkstra elicits from his singers is breathtaking and the choir's performances are a lesson in vocal precision.

Soprano Liv Elise Nordskog and pianist Signe Bakke proudly announce the release of their album Tveitt Songs, a captivating tribute to the vocal works of renowned Norwegian composer Geirr Tveitt. This release shines a spotlight on Tveitt's enchanting songs, bringing his lyrical and expressive compositions to life.

Through minutiae explorations into the very microlevels of sound anatomy, through vocal investigations into, as well as the activation of, spatial premises and through the discovery of timbral qualities of objects, Song Circus masters an unusual audial vocabulary that expands the idea of what music can be. The Stavanger-based chamber ensemble Song Circus consists of five professional Norwegian singers, led by Liv Runesdatter, who specialise in contemporary music and improvisation. Song Circus has enduring relationships with several composers and creating artists. The ensemble has given life to an unusual and fascinating vocabulary of sound combined with rare musical precision.

The Golden voice of Norway: Norwegian born singer and songwriter Kari Bremnes was born in 1956 in Lofoten. Her career as a performer was delayed by her desire to finish university (she earned a Master's Degree) and a short stint as a journalist. Eventually, the call of the stage won out, and in 1987 she released her first album, Mitt Ville Hjerte. From there, Bremnes went on to release more than ten full-lengths over the next 20 years, as well as a number of successful - in Norway and in other European nations - singles.

"Aska" is sixth studio album by Amanda Daniela Scholtbach Werne, Swedish artist, most known as Slowgold. Along with acts such as Sara Parkman and Dolce, Aska is one of more or less folk-inspired rock/pop albums, which is very much based on a strong, special vocal voice.

Dive into the sonic depths of "Gabbarein," a mesmerizing double vinyl LP born from the unique collaboration of Cecilie Hafstad and Christopher Bono. This album is not just a collection of songs but a narrative woven from the fabric of deep human connection, spiritual exploration, and the raw power of nature. Recorded in the serene Arctic Circle, "Gabbarein" transcends musical norms, offering an auditory journey that resonates with the soul.

MOTHER – a word that evokes associations – memories – emotions. Which mother do you think of? A loving mother with a newborn baby in her arms. Intimacy. A despairing mother in deep grief over a lost life. Emptiness. Through words and music our lives are woven together with Mary's life and perhaps we sense that a mother's pain and sorrow, a mother's strength and endurance, a mother's warmth and love are the same now as they were two thousand years ago.