“Classical singing is a meditation shared with an audience, an insightful singing teacher once said to me. My professional path - the process of developing voice and musicality to my present professional level - has, in addition to remarkable musical experiences and a wee bit of glamour, also presented many obstacles and challenges.

Along the way I have experienced companions in all the superb composers and writers for whom I have been allowed to be an in strument. I had an ardent wish to be able to record and share some of these musical treasures from my own generation, while my human, transient voice is still in its prime and I can function as an instrument for these works. Although somewhat unusual repertoire, these songs are in turn serious, beautiful, jarring, strange songs, which deserve to be heard and preserved for posterity. It is not a total coincidence perhaps that the earliest authors here — Hölderlin and Rilke — have been

important sources of inspiration for several of our contemporary writers, Jon Fosse being one example. Transcience, autumn and death, religious contemplation and mysticism, of utmost importance also life’s miracles, love, nature ...as the somewhat introspective native of Norway’s west coast that I am, I feel a deep kinship with these manifestations of life’s quest and find immense joy and profound meaning in being able to give expression to them. It is my hope that others listening to this CD will be able to discover a bit of light and sustenance for their own journey.” - Hege Høisæter