Norwegian composer Solveig Sørbø just landed on my radar with her new classical album, “Heroin Chic” and I loved spending this evening listening to the whole record. With 38 tracks, it’s a long journey, full of details, moments and some impressive work with professional musicians. There is so much to take in, but I was happy to stay with it the whole way.
Sørbø has created an opera that asks a lot from the listener. The story explores addiction, identity, sexuality and the difficult line between life and death. It is serious subject matter and the music carries that weight. You can hear her interest in pushing classical music beyond familiar boundaries, while keeping the melodies engaging. The orchestral writing gives the album so much movement and the opera vocals bring the story into focus.
The musicians deserve credit for the work they bring to this recording, but Sørbø’s composition is what holds the entire project together. With 38 tracks, she builds a detailed world rather than relying on one mood or one sound. That makes the length easier to take in, even when the subject gets heavy.
If you enjoy the classic style of music and strong opera vocals, this album is worth your time. I loved the experience from start to end. It is a deep and ambitious piece of work and I appreciate the care behind it. Solveig Sørbø gave me a lot to think about and I’m glad this album found its way to me.
