The album ‘Nordic Spring’ is a collection of some of the finest works for string orchestra by composers from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. The music includes popular pieces by Grieg, Nielsen, Svendsen, Sibelius and Atterberg, as well as Edvard Bræin’s highly melodic Serenade for viola and orchestra, here receiving its world premiere recording. Violinist Terje Tønnesen directs the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and is also a soloist in two pieces, as is the distinguished viola player, Lars Anders Tomter.

Since its formation in 1977 the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra has established itself as one of the foremost chamber orchestras on the international scene. The NCO is comprised of Norway’s finest instrumentalists and its artistic directors and leaders throughout its history have included Iona Brown, Leif Ove Andsnes, Isabelle van Keulen and, more recently, Terje Tønnesen.

‘Nordic Spring’ features some of the best examples of string music from the Scandinavian region. One of the most famous works in the genre, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, is followed by Kurt Atterberg’s Suite for violin, viola and string orchestra, a piece notable for its transcendent beauty and passion. The soloists here are Lars Anders Tomter and Terje Tønnesen, who also performs the violin part  in Svendsen’s charming Romance, Op 26. The set also includes Nielsen’s first published work the Little Suite in A minor and Sibelius´ Valse triste, as well as the world premiere recording of Serenade for viola and orchestra by the Norwegian composer Edvard Bræin (1887-1957) with Lars Anders Tomter as soloist.