From the quiet intimacy of Hugo Alfven's Så tag mit hjärte (So Take My Heart) to the irresistible vigor of Gustaf Nordqvist's Til havs (On the Sea), this collection of 33 songs by middle to late twentieth century Swedish composers showcases
Anne-Sofie von Otter at her most luminous. The acclaimed Swedish mezzo soprano offers up her characteristic freshness and lyricism in a collection that is ultimately both challenging and utterly listenable. As with her 1996 recording of earlier Swedish songs, Wings in the Night, this recording also features pianist
Bengt Forsberg, and their longtime collaboration is evident in the fluid seamlessness of each performance. The final song, Bo Linde's May We Be Happy, is the only English-language selection on the disc; its wistful melancholy leaves the impression of a final toast before the end of a pleasant gathering of friends. In all, a rare experience, and subsequent listenings only serve to improve it.