Gefle Dagblad 130505
Helen Sjöholm, Magnus Carlsson and conductor Hans Ek. Three outstanding musical profiles gathered on a winter day in Stockholm. They put their heads together and came up with a set list that could fit in a fusion of two eminent voices and a symphony orchestra of the highest caliber.
We got to see the result in Gävle Concert Hall last night and it was an almost grand success for a full house, including the grandstand.
I can imagine that the members of the latter group thinks it’s inspiring to see such features in the “gray everyday life.” The audience definitely thinks it is, judging by the standing ovations.
At the planning stage Magnus Carlsson had a wish list which could have taken several days to get through. But now it was about two hours only and they had to make the selection with emotion.
There was a lot of Depeche Mode and Nick Cave. But also David Bowie, whose “Heroes” was a big shot at the ending of the first set. First in an instrumental version by Philip Glas with the symphony orchestra, and then in a wonderful duet with Sjöholm and Carlsson at the microphones in a special arrangement by Hans Ek. That they chose Bowie’s awesome “Where Are We Now” as one of the extra numbers made it even better.
Second set could not have started better than with Nick Cave’s “Where The Wild Rose Grow”. Initially Magnus Carlsson informed us that they had chosen lesser known songs by particularly Cave, Depeche Mode, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Chris Isaak and Coldplay. But that was only partially true. Many songs were recognized, though not in these brilliant versions.
Magnus Carlsson’s both soft and strong “Weeping Willows-voice” fit excellently into the context and Helen Sjöholm’s capacity we all know about. She is definitely one of the most versatile singers in the country. These two and the dynamics of a full-scale symphony orchestra behind them made it to an overall musical experience.
To these meetings you just have to do the thumbs up. Just so Beryl Lunder & Co. at the concert hall know… and I think they do.