68 Cornish House, Otto Street, London SE 17 3 PE, UK

Tel: +44 20 7735 0125,  Email: norbertmeyn@mac.com

Engel Lund’s Book of Folk Songs 

A unique collection of folk songs from 14 countries, arranged for solo voice and piano by Ferdinand Rauter. Performed by young international singers in their native languages.

Engel Lund’s Book of Folk Songs was published in Oxford in 1936/1949. It was created by the Icelandic singer Engel Lund and the Austrian composer Ferdinand Rauter, the founder of the Anglo-Austrian Music Society.

In the 1930ies and 40ies they travelled the world with their unique recital programmes of folk songs from many European countries. Engel Lund sang in 17 different languages, included Yiddish as well as Icelandic songs in each programme and gave lively, much praised introductions to the songs and the stories in them.

This first ever recording of the collection has now been produced at the RCM studios by some of the best young international singers in London today. They were brought together by Norbert Meyn to record the songs in their native languages. The project was organised in collaboration with the Austrian Cultural Forum London and supported by the Anglo-Austrian Music Society, Czech Centre London, the Egils Skallgrimmsson Fund (Embassy of Iceland), Erste Bank London, the German German Embassy London and the Royal College of Music.

Sophie Angebault, Soprano (FRANCE)

Håkan Ekenäs, Baritone (SWEDEN)

Anna Grevelius, Mezzo-Soprano (SWEDEN)

Madeleen IJsselmuiden, Mezzo-Soprano (NETHERLANDS)

Sigridur Osk Kristjansdottir, Mezzo-Soprano (ICELAND)

Daniela Lehner, Mezzo-Soprano (AUSTRIA)

Tania Mandzy, Mezzo-Soprano, (USA)

Norbert Meyn, Tenor (GERMANY)

Jasia Julia Nielsen, Mezzo-Soprano (DENMARK)

Revital Raviv, Soprano (ISRAEL)

Randi Synnøve Røssaak, Soprano (NORWAY)

Vojtech Safarík, Bass-Baritone, (CZECH REPUBLIC)

Simon Wallfisch, Baritone (UK)

Benno Widmer, Tenor (SWITZERLAND)

Ouri Bronchti, Piano (SWITZERLAND)

James Southall, Piano (UK)

Kathron Sturrock, Piano (UK)

„Exceptional voices from across the world - some outstanding new talents.”

Opera Now

„Engel Lund’s collection of folksongs is a casket of musical gems.“

Roger Vignoles, Royal College of Music

„These songs were collected and performed as a sign of unbeatable hope and optimism.“

Gabriele Matzner-Holzer, Austrian Ambassador in London

buy the CD here...