Search - Sissel Kyrkjebo :: Soria Moria

Crisp & clear!

Vradvla ni Valar | Willamette Valley, OR USA | 07/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sissel was about 19 when she recorded this wonderful CD. Her voice is unbelievably, but beautifully mature. The arrangements are top-notch. 'Se over Fjellet' is Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Climb every Mountain', expressively sung. My very favorite is 'Seterietens Sondag', by the 19th century violinist Ole Bull. The blend of Sissel's voice with the violin is just heavenly. 'Liliana' I find a bit ponderous. All in all, an excellent choice."

Exquisite album filled with enchanting music... Beautifully

dooby | 03/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soria Moria is a mythical mountain-top castle that features in many Nordic fairy-tales and legends, including the story of the poor Ash-Lad, Askeladden. Askeladden undertakes a long journey in search of fame and fortune. Along the way he discovers the wonders and enchantment of Soria Moria, and wins the hand of the beautiful princess. Youthful optimism, longing, romance and enchantment are the themes of this magical album, the third of Sissel's releases.



It opens with Sissel's soaring rendition of "Se Oer Fjellet," the Norwegian version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Climb Every Mountain." The title track "Soria Moria" comes from the Norwegian musical "Isfront" (Ice-front). With its spacious airy quality conjuring up images of mountain-tops, it would not sound out of place in the original "Sound of Music". Most of the songs including "Soria Moria" were either written or arranged by Svein Gundersen, the prolific composer of numerous songs and stage musicals. "Seterjentens Søndag" (Chalet-Girl's Sunday) is an exquisite violin piece by the 19th Century Norwegian composer Ole Bull and comes with a lovely violin solo from Arve Tellefsen. "Alle Hav Består Av Dråper" (The Seas are filled with Tears) is the Norwegian version of an old Russian (Cossack) folk song, "Stenka Razin" aka "Volga, Volga mat' rodnaya" (Volga, Volga mother river). The tune, with its combination of slavic sadness and martial rhythms, is better known in the English-speaking world as "The Carnival is Over," popularised in the 1960s by the Australian folk group The Seekers. "Grenseløs" is a lovely reflective piece taken from Sissel's contribution to Danish composer Sebastien's fairy-tale album "Et Eventyr" inspired by the H.C. Andersen fairy-tale "The Marsh King's Daughter". Two songs have a more contemporary folk feel to them. "Liliana" and "Slummens Datter" (Daughter of the Slums) address the hopes and dreams of women in the third world - "Liliana" in Nicaragua and "Slummens Datter" in Thailand. There is a curious but enjoyable version of "Pokarekare Ana" sung in a mix of Norwegian and the original Maori (Pokarekare Ana is a traditional Maori song pledging eternal love - this version keeps intact the chorus with its plaintive final lines "Ka Mate Ahau, I Te Aroha E - Until I Die, I Will Love You). "Amazing Grace" was specially recorded in the US with an American gospel choir and is sung in English in traditional gospel style. The album ends with a lovely unadorned rendition of Bernstein's "Somewhere" from "West Side Story".



Beautifully recorded, backed by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and various choirs, this is a pleasure to listen to. The CD comes with a 12-page cover booklet with a combination of lyrics and song synopses. There are some lovely photos, including one of Sissel as Maria in the Norwegian production of "Sound of Music", as well as souvenir shots of her in Bangkok and the US. The back cover features a famous painting by Norwegian artist, Theodor Kittelsen, showing a travelling pilgrim viewing Soria Moria Castle from a distance as it lies bathed in golden light. This being an import, everything is in Norwegian."

Worth waiting for

John D. Havens | New Jersey | 05/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is not found in the States and must be imported from Norway. It is most certainly worth waiting for as her voice is a most beautiful instrument and the arrangements are well done."