Sandström: Sonnets Of Darkness And Love (Nils Landgren)

Nils Landgren is at the center of "Sonnets Of Darkness And Love", the last work by composer Sven-David Sandström. Inspired by Shakespeare, Lorca and Nietzsche, the work was re-recorded by Swedish Radio after its original premiere was postponed. This recording showcases Landgren's expressive interpretation, honoring Sandström's legacy with powerful choral voices and soaring trombone lines. On October 18, 2018, I received an email from Danish choirmaster and former trombone colleague Mogens Dahl. He wrote: "I have the idea to have Swedish composer Sven-David Sandström write a piece for mixed choir, plus your trombone and vocals - nothing else. As a former trombonist, I have a certain affinity with this instrument, and I really like the way you play and sing. Sven-David is ill, but ready to start writing immediately. Can we meet, maybe in the publisher's office?" That was the beginning of this wonderful project. We met on November 13th at 10:00 am at the Gehrmans publishing house office in Stockholm, and it was a very special and heartwarming meeting. Mogens and the librettist, Jakob Holtze, were new acquaintances, but I already knew Sven-David from several events at the Royal Academy of Music, where we had often expressed our mutual appreciation for each other's work.