Highly regarded young soprano Ann-Helen Moen is accompanied on this disc of the rarely recorded songs of the Norwegian composer Catherinus Elling, by pianist Gunilla Süssmann. Elling (1858-1942), wrote a large number of works in the style of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms.

The soprano Ann-Helen Moen has attracted a great deal of international attention over the last couple of years. Moen was a full time soloist of Opera Graz, Austria, and having had great success for her Mozart interpretations in particular, she is now a guest at key opera houses in Europe. She made her USA debut with the Andsnes Project in Carnegie Hall in 2005. Pianist Gunilla Süssmann is much in demand both as soloist and chamber musician. She has given recitals in Concertgebouw and Wigmore Hall, and 2009 saw her debut in the USA. The music of the little-known Norwegian composer Catherinus Ellings was inspired by the works of Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms. He finished two symphonies, various orchestral works, chamber music, around 200 songs, choral pieces, works for piano and an opera. On this recording we find the op. 12, songs to lyrics by German romantic poets, and the later songs to contemporary Norwegian poetry.