Monica Groop, one of the great mezzos of our time, has made over 60 recordings covering a wide range of music from baroque arias to contemporary opera. One of her major projects has been Grieg´s "Complete 172 Songs For Voice And Piano", which is now available as a box set (catalogue number: BISCD160709) of seven discs.
The seven discs have previously been released separately, to great acclaim from reviewers around the world:
"Grieg’s songs are among the gems of the song literature, and they have remained in the international repertoire because of their many qualities... Monica Groop is a singer with the ability to color her voice to suit the text and mood of a song, and with real dramatic and poetic insight... [H]er singing is so supremely musical... This complete cycle is a valuable addition to the catalog, and serious collectors may wish to obtain it all."
Henry Fogel, FANFARE
..."the distinctive artistry of the Finnish mezzo-soprano is providing an irresistable new take, thrilling to both the shadows and the bright, high-latitude light in this music."
Hilary Finch, BBC Music Magazine
"It is music of rare beauty, and these two performers give it the best presentation you could ask for."
Robert Beale, Manchester Evening News on Volume 4
"Groop and Vignoles are masters of what they have chosen to survey. Technical fluency may be taken as read — but not ignored, for simple-sounding Grieg, like simple-sounding Mozart, is often anything but. Groop knows precisely how far to take her vocal characterisation of the many forlorn lovers — and the even more numerous dramatic turns in the weather — and does a nice line in male seducers. Vignoles's bright, direct and alert playing feels totally idiomatic. Sound and balance are ideal"
Mike Ashman, Gramophone, on Grieg 'The Complete Songs, Volume 5'
For all those who love the music of Edvard Grieg - and beautiful songs and singing in general - this box set is a real treasure chest. Strongly recommended!
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