RECORDINGS

Peter Friis Johansson is one of Sweden's most brilliant pianists right now. He has not least won recognition for his cycles of Franz Schubert's complete piano sonatas for more than a decade. Now that he has finally started recording them under the title Beyond Schubert, it is with an unusual approach. Not only does he perform from original manuscripts, and even completes unfinished sonatas—he also combines some of the sonatas with high-quality works by Swedish composers that somehow are connected to Schubert's.

On this first volume, the charming A Major Sonata, Op. 3, by Sweden's grand old lady, Elfrida Andrée (1841–1929), is placed next to Schubert's equally charming sonata in the same key (D 664). This album starts, however, with Schubert's big A Minor Sonata (D 845).

Pianist Peter Friis Johansson has brought together renowned musicians, including violinist Johan Dalene and soprano Sofie Asplund, for a programme that juxtaposes three generations of Swedish composers. The vocal and chamber works performed here testify to the special place these genres occupy in Swedish art music and to the vitality of musical societies in the early twentieth century, which sparked an interest that went far beyond easily digestible music.

Accompanied by Peter Friis Johansson, Johan Dalene offers a selection of popular violin pieces that have accompanied him since his early years. "The repertoire we have chosen for this album consists mainly of pieces that have been with me since my childhood."

Bo Linde (1933-1970) was one the most gifted Swedish composers but due to his expressive preferences became a musical outcast since the politicized Swedish music life in the 1950s demanded avantgardistic music. Many of Linde's works were neglected, until now with this world premiere recording of Linde's Piano Trio No. 1 and Six Character Pieces, and the Divertimento is for the first time presented in a version for violin.

This disc presents the fruits of my effort of commissioning new works as well as unearthing overlooked Swedish masterpieces. The CD features one older, unfinished work with a completion by myself, and two commissions made on my initiative.

Hugo Alfvén is one of Sweden’s principal composers, with works that struck a chord with a wide audience. As a result of his popularity, a nationwide collection was held in celebration of his 70th birthday in 1942, with the proceeds used to build Alfvéngården, the composer’s home during his final years. 80 years later, Rombo and Friis Johansson released their tribute to Alfvén’s 150th anniversary, recorded at Alfvéngården on Alfvéns own piano.

This is the first ever album devoted to the chamber music of Helena Munktell, one of the earliest female composers in Sweden. The CD features the grand Violin sonata, the Dix Melodies for soprano and piano, and the Kleines Trio. It was recorded in Giresta Kyrka in 2019.

My very first commercial recording was done in 2006 with my dear friend and colleague cellist Jakob Koranyi. The CD features the cello sonata by Benjamin Britten and Johannes Brahms' first cello sonata and was released on Caprice Records.