Credits:

Bjarte Engeset, Noriko Ogawa (Classical), Owain Irwell Hughes, Malmo Symphony Orchestra, Malmo Opera Orchestra

Description:

The works included on this album are related to Norwegian history, a subject that captivated Grieg (18431907) and playwright Bjrnstjerne Bjrnson (the great Norwegian playwright who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1903). They were captivated by the era when the Vikings roamed the land and Christianity and the Old Norse religion were locked in fierce competition, and they crafted several magnificent stories. Homecoming tells the story of the real-life King Olav Trigvason (c. 9601000), who has also been the subject of an opera. The work is based on the motif of his being overcome by a religious vision upon seeing the coast of his homeland as he returned to Norway from England. The music associated with Sigurd, King of the Crusaders was also composed for a play by Bjrnson. It was well-received at