Melis Jaatinen & Juho Alakärppä - Impressions Du Nord: Nordic Songs (CD)

Release Date: 11/04/22

This album includes a repertoire of Nordic composers influenced by French impressionism and Debussy's music in particular.

This album includes a repertoire of Nordic composers influenced by French impressionism and Debussy's music in particular. In Finland, both Toivo Kuula and Leevi Madetoja are known for taking influence from impressionism. After spending extensive time at the National Library in Oslo I decided to add songs by Alf Hurumin and with the helpful advice from the principal of the Norwegian State Academy of Music, Astrid Kvalbein, Pauline Hall. Juho Alakärppä brought in Gösta Nystrom`s Sånger vid havet. This work was originally written for Finnish soprano Aulikki Rautava.

'I have always been drawn to impressionistic art and music. The delicately nuanced color palette and the endlessly interesting harmonic possibilities never cease to nurture my fascination. As a child I loved going through my parents ́ record collection, comprising all kinds of music. Hearing Debussy ́s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune for the first time was a something of a magical experience - the kind of experience only art can provide: that feeling of being completely absorbed by something you don't really understand. For a long time I did not dare to sing any music by Debussy, in fear of ruining that magic I had experienced at my first encounter.' -Melis Jaatinen