A KALEIDOSCOPE OF NORDIC SOUND COLORS
Felix Klieser loves challenges. For his latest album Northern Colours, the versatile horn player has dedicated himself to demanding works by Scandinavian composers such as Rolf Martinsson, Kurt Atterberg, Edvard Grieg, and Jean Sibelius. He is accompanied by the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, conducted by English conductor Jamie Phillips. The album Northern Colours will be released on April 25, 2025, by the Berlin Classics label.
At the heart of this album is the work Soundscape – A Walk in Colours, Op. 118, by Rolf Martinsson (*1956). The Swedish composer has already written two concertos for brass instruments, including Concert Fantastique (2010) for clarinetist Martin Fröst. His encounter with Felix Klieser and a concert visit to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg inspired Martinsson to compose a horn concerto for the exceptional horn player. “The encounter with Felix Klieser had a significant impact on me. In our conversation, I received not only ideas for the character and title of the work, but also for the musical ‘soundscapes’ I wanted to create,” says Rolf Martinsson. This led to the idea for the album as well as the central piece.
Soundscape – A Walk in Colours is described by the composer himself as a single-movement concerto divided into five distinct sections. It begins with a dramatic opening that transitions into a slower section, where the soloist and orchestra engage in a thematic dialogue. In the third section, the music shifts into a tranquil soundscape. The fourth section is likened by the composer to a long aria for horn and orchestra. The fifth section is a return to the dramatic opening themes. The world premiere of Soundscape took place on March 20, 2022, in Saarbrücken with Felix Klieser and the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, conducted by Petr Popelka, and was broadcast live by SR.
In addition to Martinsson’s work, the album features another horn concerto: the Horn Concerto in A minor by Kurt Atterberg (1887–1974). The composer from Gothenburg, like Rolf Martinsson, was inspired by the virtuosity of a talented soloist – the horn player Axel Malm (1888–1965). The work is characterized by late-Romantic melodies and brilliant passages, especially in the high registers, which posed a challenge for Felix Klieser. “In the Adagio, there are endless phrases and melodies, which are rather unusual for our instrument. Surviving this movement is quite a challenge,” says Felix Klieser. “Atterberg noted ‘Violoncello ad libitum’ for some solo passages. Here, we horn players could catch our breath. But that wasn’t for me; I just played through the part.”
The album is rounded off with two additional pieces that deepen the Nordic roots of the album. The first is Solveig’s Song by Edvard Grieg (1843–1907) in an arrangement by Wolfgang Renz (*1945). The composer, who lives in Augsburg, has known Felix Klieser for many years and is aware of his constant quest for new challenges. The other piece is The Swan of Tuonela by Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), featuring a striking solo for a woodwind instrument, the English horn. Felix Klieser translates this part to the horn, creating new sound colors. “If you always stay within the horn repertoire, you don’t get to know the limits,” Felix Klieser chuckles.
Northern Colours is therefore not only a tribute to the Nordic music tradition but also an impressive testament to the creative collaboration between composers and performers. An album that enchants with vast sounds and emotional depth.
