Himmelskygge, the new album from mezzo-soprano Hege Høisæter, is set for release on LAWO Classics in May 2026. The recording brings together a carefully chosen programme of Norwegian contemporary music, placing the human voice at the heart of a sound world shaped by piano, electronics, chamber textures, and modern composition.
The album features pianist Jorunn Marie Bratlie, electronic musician and composer Kari Telstad Sundet, and the jazz ensemble Tov a Vot. Their contributions allow the recording to move across stylistic boundaries, linking classical song traditions with electronic experimentation and contemporary Nordic expression.
One of the most significant works on the album is The Drift by Kari Telstad Sundet. Based on poems by Emily Dickinson, the song cycle blends acoustic instruments with electronics, creating a setting that is both intimate and expansive. Høisæter’s vocal performance interacts with Sundet’s electronic textures, giving the cycle a distinctive place within the album.
The programme opens with Olav Anton Thommessen’s Cosima minnes, a dramatic work that draws on Wagnerian material. Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen’s songs bring a lyrical connection to Norwegian poetry, while Theis Jakob’s Two Dystopian Songs adds a contemporary and thought-provoking dimension. Gisle Kverndokk’s Ave Verum provides the album’s closing moment of calm reflection.
Himmelskygge stands as a portrait of Norwegian contemporary music in motion. Through its combination of established voices, new sound worlds, and expressive performance, the album presents a thoughtful meeting of heritage and experimentation.