Five tracks and even the shortest runs for more than 8 minutes, so set aside time for one of the best classical journeys you could take. Norwegian composer Ståle Kleiberg caught me by surprise with his new release “Across the Ocean towards a Higher Firmament”. An orchestral album I loved spending time with.
This music here asks you to listen closely. The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Szilvay, gives Kleiberg’s composition so much space to move from quiet passages into bigger and more dramatic moments. The instrumentation is carefully put together and the sound design and production are excellent, something I really appreciated. It carries you along and before long you’re inside the journey.
There is a story behind the main symphony, too. Across its three movements, Kleiberg looks toward Norwegians who crossed the Atlantic in search of a different life, touching on longing, identity and belonging. That idea gives the music something to hold onto. The album includes one of the best tracks I’ve heard this year. “Lamento – Cissi Klein in memoriam” which is a tribute to a young girl from Trondheim who was killed during the Second World War as well as “The Town and its People”. These pieces give the record a wider emotional range without needing words to explain everything.
I loved listening to this album. Kleiberg knows how to use orchestral sound to draw you into a story and keep you there for the full journey. I’m happy I gave this release my time and I’ll definitely keep an eye on whatever he releases next.
