Italian Miracles - a journey in wine and music

Noone ever doubted that miracles happen in Italy. Here some of the world's most beautiful melodies were created, and the Italian soil has given growth for the greatest diversity of wines in the world.

With Italian music on the repertoir, Aage Kvalbein has brought with him Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, Rolf Lislevand, Håvard Gimse and Henning Sommerro to the wellknown Castello Banfi in Montalcino in Italy, for a CD recording.

The idea was to open all senses to the wonders of day to day life in Italy. And to see the connection between the esthetic ideals in music and in wine.

On this occasion it was Italian miracles in the shape of master pieces from the Renaissance up until today that rang from this picturesque thirteenth century castle in Tuscany. Monteverdi, Puccini, Pergolesi and Morricone are among the miracle men behind these famous melodies. They range from chamber music from the Middle Ages via famous Italian opera arias to "Gabriel's Obo" and other evergreens from today's Italian film music. This CD is the second in a series that started with French Miracles, released last year.

Aage Kvalbein is one of Norway's most important cellists and is currently a professor of cello at the Norwegian Music Academy.

Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz is a celebrated opera singer on opera scenes all over the world. She is half Norwegian, half Italian and lives in Italy.

Rolf Lislevand, also living in Italy, is one of Norway's greatest players of the lute.

Håvard Gimse is one of today's greatest Norwegian pianists.

Henning Sommerro owns an Italian accordion and is one of Norway's most interesting contemporary composers, who this time has lent his talent by arranging some of the music pieces for this particular ensemble.

But this recording is not only about music. There are similar miracles in the great flora of Italian wines. Aage Kvalbein has himself, in cooperation with wine connaiseurs, selected an Italian wine for each of the 19 tracks on the CD. The criterias were that the wines should have the same body, fruityness, resistance, passion and melancholy as their respective music pieces.

The recording venue was chosen because Castello Banfi, apart from being situated in unusually beautiful and inspiring surroundings, represents some of the most excellent wine production in Italy. The Montalcino area produces wines for export to most of the world, and Castello Banfi is particularly well known for its brunello wines.

Track list:

1. Tre Giorni
Nostalgic, soft as velvet.  A long aftertaste  with a big span and radiation

2. Gabrieles Obo
A nobel satisfaction with structure and refinement.

3. Sonata F-Dur
A revelation. Majestic and elegant. Full of richness, authority and substance. 

4. Non T’amo Piu
Costly, nobel melancholy with a touch of bitterness. Challenging and energetic.

5. Intermezzo
A gospel of generosity. Deep, well balanced warmth.

6. Totti Va Bene
Spirited and shameless. Joyful and easily moving with a touch of pride.

7. Cantata, Amor, Hai Vinto
Powerful, mature and has a flavour of it’s own.

8. Albumblatt
A serious and insisting firmness. Consisting in direction with a lot of body and a touch of aggression

9. O Mio Babbino Caro
Expressive softness with a lot of soul.

10. Sonata  A- Dur
Eventful, playful and a lot of vitality. Fresh, light and honest

11. Largo G-Moll
Firm and full of character. Rich, proud and mighty.

12. Egle
A demanding, serious and a little decadent atmosphere. Not without resistance and challenge.

13. Musettes Arie
Dominating and seductive. Full of temperament and full of attack and character. 

14. Sonata G-Dur
A classical atmosphere of peace. Elegance, rugged and lively

15. Lusignis D’Avost
Daring, demanding and original. Full of resistance and dark secrets.

16. Nemorinos Romanze
Seductive and a bitter sweetness.

17. Cinema Paradiso
Full of energy and generosity with a aftertaste of melancholy.

18. Il Brindisi
Popular, uncomplicated, fresh and traditional.

19. Torna A Surriento
A nobel and dramatic complexity with a spine and with a lot on it's heart.