Photo & © Mats Olsson
Sundsvalls Tidning 151212
By: EVA NILZON
Helen Sjöholm and Anders Widmark close the concert tour Midvinter in a snowless and bitingly windy Sundsvall. The performers are a perfect combination, and have put together a varied stage program.
Leonard Cohen, Franz Schubert, Henry Mancini, Horace Engdahl, WA Mozart and Axwell/Ingrosso. The song list from Midvinter might on paper look like a crazy concoction. But Helen Sjöholm and Anders Widmark have subtle intuition and understand their strengths. Widmark is one of Sweden’s foremost pianists and Sjöholm one of the best singers. When they rely on their respective instruments, the result is excellent.
Already in 2003 Sjöholm and Widmark recorded an album together. A couple of the tracks from “Genom varje andetag” are in Midvinter and it’s noticeable that the artists still like their previous cooperation. They also include two new songs, which they carefully tell are available to download. Maybe the new songs stick out a bit, with pre-recorded strings and drum machines.
Sometimes Widmark takes the stage himself, among other things in a fascinating hymn medley. Starting in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, he bounces past Hosianna to the Son of David and Bereden väg för Herran in an absolutely magnificent way. Imagine if all the early Christmas Day services sounded like that!
Sjöholm’s light vocal style is perfect for this pared-down production. Although she’s struggling with a cold she delivers, whether it’s hymns, pop or ballads.
The mix of musical styles gives Midvinter a freshness. A hymn is restowed to gospel. A film ballad becomes dramatic, Kurt Weill-inspired. And their Silent night might as well have been played in a blues club in Chicago in the 40’s.
The best was perhaps their version of Hemma from Kristina från Duvemåla. After this autumn and before an upcoming Christmas the song’s wish, that everyone should get to come home to a place where they can stay, feels very relevant.