With recordings of his symphonies and piano music now available, the Norwegian composer Eyvind Alnæs (1872–1932) is slowly emerging from obscurity to take his place as an important successor to Grieg.

Alnæs’ music, like Grieg’s, marrying an essentially lyrical style with the melodies and rhythms of Norwegian folk-music – but also, in his later output, with an awareness of Debussy and French impressionism.

In this recital of Alnæs’ atmospheric songs – most of them not previously recorded – Erling R. Eriksen, whose playing of Alnæs’ piano works can be heard on an earlier Toccata Classics CD, returns to his music in the company of Ann-Beth Solvang, one of Norway’s best mezzos.