13 May TOP SCORE FOR JANUS: THE CD RECEIVES A DICE ROLL OF 6

Reviewer Trond Erikson gave our new CD a dice roll rating of 6! Vi håper mange vil lese anmeldelsen og lytte til musikken.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this project:
Ingela Øien, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester, BIT20 Ensemble, Ingar Heine Bergby, Thorolf Thuestad, Owen Weaver, Hanne Elisabeth Bramness, LAWO Classics, Vegard Landaas, Thomas Wolden, Camilla Momkvist-Skau, Torgeir Meland Landaas, Blunderbuss og Anna-Julia Granberg.

Please read the review here:

The Magic of the Flute!

Finally, a full CD featuring the wonderful flutist Ingela Øien. And now she and composer Knut Vaage (b. 1961) are in the spotlight in a brand-new recording, together with, among others, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

She is, after all, musically gifted by heritage. Ingela is the daughter of Per Øien, who for many years was the principal flutist in both the Oslo Philharmonic and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. For 43 years, she has shared her flute playing with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. But on May 2nd this year, she performed her final concert with the orchestra. 

Here, she presents music by Knut Vaage. The main work on the album is his new flute concerto Janus, where she is joined by her “former” orchestra in Bergen.

This is a varied and exciting recording that captivates the ears. The 24-minute-long flute concerto Janus is a work that instantly sparks the imagination. The term "Janus face" refers to a person or something that reveals two sides. And here, Vaage demonstrates what a highly imaginative composer he is. He uses an intriguing range of instruments in the orchestra, and the soloist is given plenty of challenging musical tasks along the way. The result is a piece that has already had many spins in my living room, and it’s fascinating to discover that new, exciting elements emerge each time I lend an ear to this work.

Four shorter works by Vaage complete the album, allowing Ingela Øien’s fine playing and talent to truly shine. In Tapt slag from 1994, she is joined by percussionist Owen Weaver (from the BIT20 Ensemble) and poet Hanne Bramness. This 30-year-old piece is something entirely different from Janus, and here it’s the interplay between different instruments that truly fascinates. Bramness’s reading adds yet another beautiful dimension to the work. Vaage knows how to capture and hold the listener’s attention.

n Medusa (2023) and Får eg likna deg (2006) for solo flute, Ingela Øien once again showcases her brilliant technique and her ability to convey both beauty and excitement.

Finally, the ears are met with Electra II (2023) — and here, it truly makes an impact. This time, electronics are Ingela Øien’s partner — or perhaps opponent. Knut Vaage unleashes a range of imaginative and fantastic ideas. The piece stands in sharp contrast to the others on this recording, but that’s precisely what makes this album a complete experience.

Thanks to everyone involved in this recording. It truly is of the highest quality!

KNUT VAAGE: Works for flute
Ingela Øien, solist
ergen Philharmonic Orchestra – conductor: Ingar Bergby
LAWO Clasics LWC1378 (2025)
Duration: 67'12"

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