Lost landscapes (cd)

Ida Falk Winland (soprano), Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Pekka Kuusisto, Brad Lubman

Hillborg: Through Lost Landscapes
Hillborg: Sound Atlas
Hillborg: The Strand Settings

Anders Hillborg stands as one of Sweden’s premier contemporary voices, known for orchestrating mesmerizing, otherworldly soundscapes that defy conventional instrumentation. This anticipated Alpha release—born out of the label's ongoing partnership with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra—unites three major works that showcase his vivid exploration of texture, light, and shadow.

The program highlights two world-premiere recordings. Through Lost Landscapes, conducted by Pekka Kuusisto, shifts dynamically between massive, tension-filled block textures and shimmering, translucent gleams. Sound Atlas, under the direction of Brad Lubman, incorporates rare acoustics and electronic influences to create a stark, crystalline world that evokes the grand atmospheric sweeps of Jean Sibelius. Bridging these orchestral phenomena is The Strand Settings. Originally commissioned by Renée Fleming in 2013, these haunting settings of poems by Canadian writer Mark Strand receive an inspired interpretation here from Swedish soprano Ida Falk Winland, who sings with a soaring emotional clarity.