OTTO MORTENSEN (1907-1986): 9 songs from 10 Danish Songs, 6 songs from 10 Songs to Texts by Nordic Poets, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Adventures of Isabel, Laugh and Be Merry, 4 songs from 7 Songs (1951), Du gav os de blomster, Septembers himmel er så blå, Min skat.

Description: These songs form a nicely varied program of the output of a particularly significant and prolific 20th-century Danish composer who mostly specialised in song writing. Entirely tonal, and beautifully crafted for the voice, with eloquent yet straightforward and unfussy piano accompaniment, the songs set a variety of texts. These are mainly love poems and nature poems by Scandinavian, mainly Danish, poets, in charming, atmospheric settings. Especially among later (mid-century) songs, there are some more intricate art songs - the Robert Frost setting (in English) is especially fine - allowing the full extent of the composer's remarkable melodic gift more ample means of expression. Danish-English texts. Signe Asmussen (soprano), Jakob Næslund Madsen (tenor), Christen Stubbe Teglbjærg (piano).