The Swedish Soprano

Anne Sofie von Otter, Ida Falk Winland, Karin Edvardsson Johansson, Elin Lisslass, Barbro Ericson, Margareta Bergström, Sylvan Beré, Eva Prytz, Margareta Bergström, MariAnne Häggander, Thomas Schuback, Katarina Nilsson, Dorothy Irving, Kerstin Ståhl, Hillevi Martinpelto, Christina Högman, Elisabeth Söderström, Tjugmyr Maria Larsson, Lena Hoel, Siri Torjeson, Sara Olsson, Marianne Eklöf, Annika Skoglund, Viveka Anderberg, Swedish Radio Choir, Dorothy Dorow, Calla Wagenius, Lena Willemark, Karin Frölén, Karin Edvardsson Johansson, Per-Arne Wahlgren, Hägersten Motet Choir, Matilda Jungstedt-Linden-Reuterswärd

The 12th volume in Caprice Records digital compilation series on Swedish classical music ventures away from instrumental and ensemble music, to focus on the high female voice – the soprano. Beloved as a uniquely expressive vocal range in all the Western world, the fostering and development of the soprano voice in Swedish and otherwise Scandinavian musical culture is perhaps older than most. Especially so in the vocal tradition called kulning (herding calls), with its ancient roots. Originally a highly utilitarian form of musical expression, kulning developed into a real art form over the centuries, a few recordings of which can be heard on this album. In the Swedish operatic tradition, several notable sopranos have entranced the world with their voices, with legendary names like Jenny Lind, Christina Nilsson, Birgit Nilsson and Elisabeth Söderström having prepared the stage for the great artists of today, like Anne Sofie von Otter, Nina Stemme, Miah Persson and Hillevi Martinpelto.