trio mediaeval launch US tour
The popular and highly respected vocal trio heads out on yet another US tour this April.
Anna Maria Friman, Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Torunn Østrem Ossum, better known as vocal ensemble trio mediaeval head out on a new US tour these days. The trio has a loyal following in North America following several successful trips across the Atlantic. This April will see trio mediaeval performing in New York, Ann Arbor, Milwaukee, Durham, San Antonio, San Francisco, Windsor and Sun Valley.
Background
Founded in Oslo in 1997, trio mediaeval has developed three distinct strands of repertoire: polyphonic medieval music from England and France, contemporary works and Norwegian medieval ballads and songs. The group’s initial phase was inspired by intense periods of work at the Hilliard Summer Festival in England and Germany, and subsequently with Linda Hirst and John Potter.
The trio has collaborated with many composers, including Gavin Bryars, Ivan Moody, Roger Marsh, Paul Robinson, Piers Hellawell, (UK), Joanne Metcalf (USA), Thoma Simaku (Albania), Oleh Harkavyy (Ukraine), Gonzalo Macías (Mexico), Bjørn Kruse and Andrew Smith (Norway), and Sungji Hong (Korea).
trio mediaeval released its first CD on ECM Records in October 2001. ‘Words of the Angel’ immediately went to The Billboard Top 10 Bestsellers list and was the April 2002 Stereophile “Recording of the Month.” On the 16th of January 2004 the trio released its second CD ‘Soir dit-elle’ on ECM Records. Also this recording was on the Billboard Top 10 list for weeks.
Soir, dit-elle'
‘Soir, dit-elle' is Trio Mediaeval's second album. The trio's So-called Scandinavian sound was considered a refreshing and substantial contribution to the realm of sacred music. The choice of medieval repertoire for their young soprano voices was remarkably successful according to connoisseurs of the style. The singing of the three women has been characterized as uniquely transparent and pure at the same time as the melodic abilities are rare. Especially the blending of the three voices, and their control and intelligence in so doing, has been the cause of much acclaim. On their former release the focus was on classical works from the medieval period. This time the majority of the works are original, especially composed for the trio; as a consequence of their high status in the sphere of medieval music. The exception is pieces by Leonel Powers; a key figure in English 15th century music. The great temporal span thus represented on the record serves to reveal the distinct qualities of sacred music that renders the expression non-temporal; "an intimacy with the continuous, timeless present" to quote the words of John Potter of the Hillard ensemble; instrumental in the formation of the Trio Mediaeval and producer on this ECM release.
Live appearances
trio mediaeval has given concerts and radio broadcasts in the US, UK, Austria, Holland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Finland, the Baltic States, Spain and France. They have performed at venues such as the Wigmore Hall London, BBC Radio 3 lunchtime concerts from the Temple Church, Trinity College Chapel Cambridge, the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Oslo Concert House. In February 2004 the trio made its first tour of the US, with concerts and broadcasts in New York, Washington, Boston, Chicago and Lacey. In November 2004 they made their second US tour also visiting Canada, and including radio broadcasts in Minnesota, Georgia and Quebec, Canada. Their April 2005 US tour brings them for the first time to the West Coast, and in December their venues include Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Previous trips to the US have spawned a string of rave review for the vocal trio, below are some excerpts:
"Make room for this extraordinary Scandinavian trio (…) They are jewels of a different hue. One thread that binds all these disparate compositions together is a fascination with the power of human voices alone, and Trio Mediaeval presents a shining example of just how enthralling that sound can be."
Billboard
"A room of extraordinary and consoling beauty."
The Boston Globe
"The group is breathtaking (…) with every moment ready to bring a surprise."
The Wall Street Journal
"As its members disperse, Anonymous 4 leaves behind the niche it largely created. And eager to fill it are three hip and lively Scandinavian women (…) All three singers, through highly individual in vocal color and approach function as high-flying sopranos, pure and bright."
The New York Times
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