Norrbottens-Kuriren 111001
By: BOEL SKARIN
Helen Sjöholm can handle all genres and has a fascinating power in her voice, Kuriren critic Boel Skarin notes after Friday evening’s concert at Kulturens Hus (House of Culture).
Main Hall of Kulturens Hus in Luleå is sold out to the very last seat when Lulea Chamber Choir, conducted by Monica Wasberg, begins tonight’s concert with the Irish folk song The Bog Down in the Valley, and then continue with the much calmer Havet låter på ett särskilt sätt (Sea sounds in a special way) by Barbro Lindgren, maybe most associated with children’s books.
Barbro Lindgren has also given rise to the next song Längst inne i mitt huvud (Deep inside my head). Here, Helen Sjöholm and her usual accompanist, pianist Martin Östergren, enter the stage and backed by the choir go ahead with Cornelis’ En stund på jorden (A moment on earth).
Sjöholm has a charisma that reaches into the concert hall’s every nook and she guides her audience through all the genres in the most obvious and humorous way like only she can. Her light-hearted and happy small talk between songs creates natural inputs in the songs and she finds it a bit harsh that even the last time she sang with Lulea Chamber Choir, she was knocked up.
Some of Olle Adolphson’s brilliant compositions follow, including Signerat Karlsson, evig vår (Signed Karlsson, unending spring) which Helen performs in a duet with Martin Östergren. It´s followed by the everyday romantic Siv och Gunne. The two following songs are sung by the choir, but Helen and Martin never leave the stage, but sit down behind the grand piano.
Tomas Andersson Wiij has written Swedish lyrics to a number of Billy Joel songs, which last year became an album and from that album Helen sings Kvinnan för dig (She’s Always A Woman), showing hereby that it really doesn´t matter what she performs. All music is her own, whether it´s an old ”snapsvisa” (dram song) or the slightly newer Come give me love by the Gärdestad brothers.
Helen Sjöholm can handle all genres and has a fascinating power in her voice. Her natural way of singing, of course, refined and educated, in combination with her theatrical presence, makes the concert to an optimal listening experience. There simply seems to be no weak spots in her voice.
Sjöholm, Östergren and Lulea Chamber Choir are a highly successful combination and the melodious choir gives a nice and good-sounding setting to the soloist.
However, there are moments when the song selection seems a little bit too traditional, but when Helen, laughing, exclaims: “We’re just doing the old songs!”, you realize that quality is timeless, and instead enjoy a moment of a very nice interpretation of Horgalåten.
Then I have to leave Kulturens Hus because of going to press reasons.
FACTS
We´ll meet again!
Main Hall, House of Culture.
Friday 30/9-11 at 19:00.
Cast: Helen Sjöholm, Luleå Chamber Choir under the direction of Monica Wasberg.
Musicians: Martin Ostergren.