A Spotless Rose is a solemn CD, containing classical and new Nordic Christmas music. Advent, the birth of Jesus, and Virgin Mary are the themes of the songs. Music by classical Swedish composers like Otto Olsson, Gustaf Nordqvist, Ivar Widéen, Gunnar Hahn and Hugo Alfvén is mixed with new compositions by the Norwegians Ola Gjeilo and Trond Kverno and the Swedes Ingvar Lidholm, Jan Sandström and Fredrik Sixten.
The ultimate Christmas song Silent Night is performed in an arrangement by Fredrik Sixten, who has added a melody called Mary’s Lullaby to a poem by Bo Setterlind. Commissioned by Sofia Vokalensemble is Fredrik Sixten’s There is no Rose of Such Vertu. This song and Jan Sandström’s O magnum mysterium are here premiered on CD.
A Spotless Rose is the second CD by Sofia Vokalensemble, after the much praised The Darkness Is No Darkness (FRCD 047). In recent years the ensemble has participated in several international choir competitions, where they have won gold medals, 2011 in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. The choir’s home is in Stockholm, Sweden.
The founder and conductor of Sofia Vokalensemble is Bengt Ollén, who is often invited to teach and conduct at choir festivals, workshops and concerts in Sweden and abroad.
Soprano soloist on this CD is Jeanette Köhn. Organist is Henrik Arlestrand. Violin is played by Bartosz Cajler.
