Per Kristian Skalstad & Tor Espen Aspaas: Johan Halvorsen - a man and his violin
MIC’s Listen to Norway series continues with Per Kristian Skalstad & Tor Espen Aspaas’ 'Johan Halvorsen a man and his violin'.
The influence of the theatre on the life of composer, violinist and conductor Johan Halvorsen dates as far back as his youth. During his time as musical director for Norway’s two most important theatrical stages he composed music for over thirty different plays. As a performer he was the guiding light for several generations of Norwegian violinists, and as a composer he was to broaden Norway’s international reputation through a number of important chamber works. The unusually visual nature of his music left so strong an imprint upon his contemporaries that he was presented with a violin of exceptional quality and value by a Russian patron. On this recording two central Norwegian performers – violinist Per Kristian Skalstad and pianist Tor Espen Aspaas - allow us to become acquainted with Johan Halvorsen’s chamber music – performed on the composer’s very own instrument.
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