Home for Christmas

with Anne Sofie von Otter

Home for Christmas - with an international flavor. The Swedish singer Anne Sofe von Otter is at the top of her profession - recognized in musical circles around the world.

It has been said that one should expect the unexpected from Anne Sofie von Otter - and this album of Christmas songs is no exception. This CD is a collection with an international flavor. There are songs in Swedish, English, French and German.

A reviewer from New York writes:

" Home for Christmas is not your run-of-the-mill "listen to me, I'm an opera singer lavishing my gorgeous voice on these pretty Christmas songs" recording.

Anne Sofie von Otter's fans have long-since learned to expect the unexpected from this exceptional singer and, on this recording, now several years old, that's what she offers - the unexpected.

With only a couple of exceptions, the songs on Home for Christmas are traditional Christmas fare, though usually with an added twist: the distorted rhythm that makes "Tomorrow will be my dancing day" really dance, or the jazz blue notes in "Have yourself a merry little Christmas". Ms. von Otter bears more than a passing resemblance to another great cross-over artist, the late Eileen Farrell.)

In this free rhythmic treatment, Deck the Halls, arranged for accordion and violin accompaniment, is much less a fa-la-la madrigal than an introspective folk-song that builds on its own momentum. In contrast, the simple hymn, Star of Bethlehem, which Ingvar Wixell recorded many years ago on his Christmas offering, shows Ms. von Otter's lush voice to full effect."

Home for Christmas

Rarely has Otter sung with such warmth as in "Koppangen" accompanied by accordion, guitar, violin, and mandolin. A number of reviewers have singled out this song for lavish praise and when you hear it for yourself you are likely to agree.

Listening to the "Home for Christmas" CD there is a feeling of warmth - you can imagine yourself sitting at the fireplace with von Otter and a small ensemble of musicians.

Home for Christmas

Much praise has been lavished on Home for Christmas, the album, it has the sense of a quintessential northern European family Christmas. We recommend "Home for Christmas" for your listening pleasure.

On this Home for Christmas CD:

1. Koppangen Composed by Pereric Moraeus with Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus

2. The Christmas song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire) Composed by Mel Torme with Kalle Moraeus

3. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (English) Composed by Christmas Traditional with Stockholm Chamber Brass

4. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (Silent Night) Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber with Ulf Forsberg, Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson, Mats Rondin

5. O Jesulein süß o Jesulein mild Composed by Christmas Traditional with Ulf Forsberg, Ola Karlsson

6. Il est né, le divin enfant (French) Composed by Christmas Traditional with Ulf Forsberg, Markus Leoson

7. Noël, song for voice and piano with or without harmonium ad lib, Op. 43/1 Composed by Gabriel Faure with Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson

8. Santa Lucia Composed by Italian Traditional with Markus Leoson

9. Staffansvisa (Staffan's song) Composed by Christmas Traditional with Markus Leoson, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus

10. För redeliça män (For good men) Composed by Christmas Traditional with Markus Leoson, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus

11. Bred dina vida vingar (Spread Your Wings Over Me), Swedish Hymnal No 190 Composed by Anonymous with Kalle Moraeus

12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (from Meet Me in St. Louis, film) Composed by Hugh / Blane, Ralph Martin with Markus Leoson

13. I Wonder As I Wander Composed by John Jacob Niles with Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson

14. Cantique de Noel for voice & orchestra, "O Holy Night" Composed by Adolphe Adam with Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson

15. White Christmas (first used in the film "Holiday Inn") Composed by Irving Berlin with Ulf Forsberg, Svante Henryson, Mats Rondin

16. Deck the Halls (Welsh) Composed by Christmas Traditional with Kalle Moraeus

17. Utterns Polska Composed by Kalle Moraeus with Kalle Moraeus

18. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste fidelis) Composed by John Francis Wade with Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson

19. Maria Wiegenlied (Mary's Lullaby: "Maria sitzt am Rosenhag"), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 76/52 Composed by Max Reger with Knut Sonstevold

20. Betlehems Stjärna (Gläns Över Sjö Och Strand) Composed by Alice Tegner with Bengt Forsberg

21. Corpus Christi Carol, for voice or unison chorus & organ Composed by Benjamin Britten with Ulf Forsberg, Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Markus Leoson, Mats Rondin

22. Sweet Was the Song the virgin sung Composed by Anonymous with Jakob Lindberg

23. Koppangen - Swedish version Composed by Pereric Moraeus with Svante Henryson, Svante Henryson, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus, Kalle Moraeus

Home for Christmas