Releases
This page features information about Amethyst Records' releases
ILLUMINATIONS - Vintage recordings of music by RUTH BAKKE
performed by Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra w/Per Hannevold, Iver Kleive, Audun Kayser and others
February 2023
For the first time, Amethyst Records presents an album of music in which Ricardo Odriozola has had no direct involvement (although he appears, anonymously, as the member of the orchestra in one of the works).
We are delighted to present "Illuminations", a collection of vintage recordings of music by the Norwegian composer Ruth Bakke. She has built a reputation as an outstanding organist and visionary composer in a career spanning over five decades.
For this album, Bakke has undertaken an archaeological expedition of sorts, in search of old live and studio recordings of some of her most impressive compositions. The Bassoon concerto, which gives the album its title, is a highly evocative and spiritually soaring work. The three organ works evidence Bakke's refined ear for tone colour. The brief piano work "In Memoriam (Alta)" is a powerful expression of outrage, while "Psalm 8" probes into the immensity of Creation and our place in it. "Into the Light" for violin and organ is something of a classic for the instrumental combination. It does what it says in the title, travelling from darkness to scintillating light.
The album counts with performances by some very prominent performers from the Bergen area, including Per Hannevold (solo bassoonist in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra - which, under the direction of Dmitri Kitayenko, accompanies him in the bassoon concerto - for 4 decades), the pianist and Grieg expert Audun Kayser, the late concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic Håkon Gulbrandsen, the organist Iver Kleive - the only performer in the album not born in Bergen (he is from Skien) - and Bakke herself.
performed by Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra w/Per Hannevold, Iver Kleive, Audun Kayser and others
February 2023
For the first time, Amethyst Records presents an album of music in which Ricardo Odriozola has had no direct involvement (although he appears, anonymously, as the member of the orchestra in one of the works).
We are delighted to present "Illuminations", a collection of vintage recordings of music by the Norwegian composer Ruth Bakke. She has built a reputation as an outstanding organist and visionary composer in a career spanning over five decades.
For this album, Bakke has undertaken an archaeological expedition of sorts, in search of old live and studio recordings of some of her most impressive compositions. The Bassoon concerto, which gives the album its title, is a highly evocative and spiritually soaring work. The three organ works evidence Bakke's refined ear for tone colour. The brief piano work "In Memoriam (Alta)" is a powerful expression of outrage, while "Psalm 8" probes into the immensity of Creation and our place in it. "Into the Light" for violin and organ is something of a classic for the instrumental combination. It does what it says in the title, travelling from darkness to scintillating light.
The album counts with performances by some very prominent performers from the Bergen area, including Per Hannevold (solo bassoonist in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra - which, under the direction of Dmitri Kitayenko, accompanies him in the bassoon concerto - for 4 decades), the pianist and Grieg expert Audun Kayser, the late concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic Håkon Gulbrandsen, the organist Iver Kleive - the only performer in the album not born in Bergen (he is from Skien) - and Bakke herself.
SWARM - Music for two violins
Guillaume Tardif and Ricardo Odriozola, violins
Music by Holmboe, Archer, Bergh and Eckhardt-Gramatté
December 2020
We are happy to finally be able to present this fine collection of works for two violins, recorded in 2008 in one exhilarating 6-hour session.
The players had been on tour with the pieces prior to the recording and had played together in several occasions before that. This shared experience gives these performances a lively, played-in feel.
The repertoire includes music by two Scandinavian and two Canadian Twentieth Century composers. Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996) was the prime Danish symphonic composer in the generation after Nielsen, while Sverre Bergh (1915-1980) was for decades a central figure in the musical life of Bergen (Norway). Violet Archer (1913-2000), was also a pianist, organist and percussionist. She is well-known in Canada and was a much loved teacher. Sophie Eckhardt-Gramatté (1899-1974) was born in Russia and travelled widely before settling in Canada. She was a virtuoso violin and piano player.
The cover is another stunning job by Isabel Odriozola, as is the recording by Håvard Matland and mastering by Jan Øyvind Hanevik.
Ricardo Odriozola, December 29th 2020
Guillaume Tardif and Ricardo Odriozola, violins
Music by Holmboe, Archer, Bergh and Eckhardt-Gramatté
December 2020
We are happy to finally be able to present this fine collection of works for two violins, recorded in 2008 in one exhilarating 6-hour session.
The players had been on tour with the pieces prior to the recording and had played together in several occasions before that. This shared experience gives these performances a lively, played-in feel.
The repertoire includes music by two Scandinavian and two Canadian Twentieth Century composers. Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996) was the prime Danish symphonic composer in the generation after Nielsen, while Sverre Bergh (1915-1980) was for decades a central figure in the musical life of Bergen (Norway). Violet Archer (1913-2000), was also a pianist, organist and percussionist. She is well-known in Canada and was a much loved teacher. Sophie Eckhardt-Gramatté (1899-1974) was born in Russia and travelled widely before settling in Canada. She was a virtuoso violin and piano player.
The cover is another stunning job by Isabel Odriozola, as is the recording by Håvard Matland and mastering by Jan Øyvind Hanevik.
Ricardo Odriozola, December 29th 2020
BERNT KASBERG EVENSEN:
Music for violin and piano
November 2019
Of all the records on this label, this is the one that has taken the shortest time from gestation to completion: a mere eight months. This has, however, not detracted from the quality and depth of the playing. The performers have, for many years, been close collaborators of the composer and they have performed this music extensively.
Bernt Kasberg Evensen is a truly original voice within Scandinavian music. He has produced a considerable body of work in many genres, always informed by his keen interest in anthroposophy and his love of life and people.
This CD contains all of the available works Evensen has written for violin and piano. The music is mostly slow and meditative, but it also contains moments of carefree joy, elegance, solemnity and even aggression.
It is very satisfying to be able to present this unjustly neglected music to the public.
The recording and mastering is another outstanding job by Jan Øyvind Hanevik. The stunning cover is, as usual, by Isabel Odriozola. CD text by Ricardo Odriozola.
Ricardo Odriozola, November 17th 2019
Music for violin and piano
November 2019
Of all the records on this label, this is the one that has taken the shortest time from gestation to completion: a mere eight months. This has, however, not detracted from the quality and depth of the playing. The performers have, for many years, been close collaborators of the composer and they have performed this music extensively.
Bernt Kasberg Evensen is a truly original voice within Scandinavian music. He has produced a considerable body of work in many genres, always informed by his keen interest in anthroposophy and his love of life and people.
This CD contains all of the available works Evensen has written for violin and piano. The music is mostly slow and meditative, but it also contains moments of carefree joy, elegance, solemnity and even aggression.
It is very satisfying to be able to present this unjustly neglected music to the public.
The recording and mastering is another outstanding job by Jan Øyvind Hanevik. The stunning cover is, as usual, by Isabel Odriozola. CD text by Ricardo Odriozola.
Ricardo Odriozola, November 17th 2019
J. S. Bach - Sonatas and partitas for solo violin
January 2017
We are very pleased to finally present Ricardo Odriozola’s recording of J. S. Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin.
These recordings were the initiative of the late Dag Fluge (1932-2015), who wished to release them on his record label Vest Norsk Plateselskap. Since that release did not materialize we decided to put out these ten-year-old recordings (made in 2006) on Amethyst Records. We hereby gratefully acknowledge Fluge’s initiative as well as Steinar Bakkemo’s superb sound recording. The two CDs were lovingly mastered by Jan Øyvind Hanevik.
Bach’s sonatas and partitas are seminal works of the violin repertoire and they have been recorded many times before.
The present recording is a result of nearly 30 years of experience with the music and it offers a personal and respectful perspective on these works. The release comes with generous notes from the violinist.
The cover art design and photography is another excellent job by Isabel Odriozola.
Ricardo Odriozola, January 13th 2017
January 2017
We are very pleased to finally present Ricardo Odriozola’s recording of J. S. Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin.
These recordings were the initiative of the late Dag Fluge (1932-2015), who wished to release them on his record label Vest Norsk Plateselskap. Since that release did not materialize we decided to put out these ten-year-old recordings (made in 2006) on Amethyst Records. We hereby gratefully acknowledge Fluge’s initiative as well as Steinar Bakkemo’s superb sound recording. The two CDs were lovingly mastered by Jan Øyvind Hanevik.
Bach’s sonatas and partitas are seminal works of the violin repertoire and they have been recorded many times before.
The present recording is a result of nearly 30 years of experience with the music and it offers a personal and respectful perspective on these works. The release comes with generous notes from the violinist.
The cover art design and photography is another excellent job by Isabel Odriozola.
Ricardo Odriozola, January 13th 2017
Views from my horse - Music by Ricardo Odriozola (2002-2004)
December 2014
I am very happy to finally present this CD of music written by me (Ricardo Odriozola) between 2002 and 2004.
The album is, to a large extent, a documentation of those three years in the composer’s life , so the material is autobiographic. Do not read too much into it, though. Ideally, the music will appeal as pure music and, perhaps, prompt you to look into your own biography and find points of connection.
The programme is varied: tango, children’s pieces, pseudo-prog, a piano soliloquy and chamber music, all of it intentionally and inevitably written from the inner recesses of the heart and, equally intentionally (and necessarily), balanced by the head.
”Views From My Horse” is graced by outstanding contributions from several top musicians from the Bergen area.
Ricardo Odriozola, December 11th 2014
December 2014
I am very happy to finally present this CD of music written by me (Ricardo Odriozola) between 2002 and 2004.
The album is, to a large extent, a documentation of those three years in the composer’s life , so the material is autobiographic. Do not read too much into it, though. Ideally, the music will appeal as pure music and, perhaps, prompt you to look into your own biography and find points of connection.
The programme is varied: tango, children’s pieces, pseudo-prog, a piano soliloquy and chamber music, all of it intentionally and inevitably written from the inner recesses of the heart and, equally intentionally (and necessarily), balanced by the head.
”Views From My Horse” is graced by outstanding contributions from several top musicians from the Bergen area.
Ricardo Odriozola, December 11th 2014
Dragning - Chamber Music by Kenneth Sivertsen
January 2014
We are very proud to be able to offer this album of chamber music by the great Norwegian composer, guitarist, singer and entertainer Kenneth Sivertsen (1961-2006). In his short life he managed to produce a large amount of work within many genres (classical, jazz, popular song, religious songs, rock...), excelling in all of them.
Although, during his lifetime, he was best known as an entertainer with an uncommon comedic genius, it was composition that was closest to his heart.
The present album features five chamber works, four of which are first-time recordings. The music is typical of Sivertsen in that it exhibits a wide range of expression, from the deeply confessional to the off-the-wall experimental and descriptive, with some deeply tender moments juxtaposed by frightening outbursts of anguish and fury.
The performers on the record are among the finest in the Bergen area (Western Norway), including two stellar appearances by maestro David Jackson, who graced our previous release, "Jaxon Faces the Jury".
The album has been lovingly recorded and mastered by Jan Øyvind Hanevik, with assistance from Johan Modahl Leiva (whose website you will find here), and Isabel Odriozola has produced yet another striking cover.
Ricardo Odriozola, January 21st 2014
January 2014
We are very proud to be able to offer this album of chamber music by the great Norwegian composer, guitarist, singer and entertainer Kenneth Sivertsen (1961-2006). In his short life he managed to produce a large amount of work within many genres (classical, jazz, popular song, religious songs, rock...), excelling in all of them.
Although, during his lifetime, he was best known as an entertainer with an uncommon comedic genius, it was composition that was closest to his heart.
The present album features five chamber works, four of which are first-time recordings. The music is typical of Sivertsen in that it exhibits a wide range of expression, from the deeply confessional to the off-the-wall experimental and descriptive, with some deeply tender moments juxtaposed by frightening outbursts of anguish and fury.
The performers on the record are among the finest in the Bergen area (Western Norway), including two stellar appearances by maestro David Jackson, who graced our previous release, "Jaxon Faces the Jury".
The album has been lovingly recorded and mastered by Jan Øyvind Hanevik, with assistance from Johan Modahl Leiva (whose website you will find here), and Isabel Odriozola has produced yet another striking cover.
Ricardo Odriozola, January 21st 2014
Jaxon Faces the Jury
David Jackson and Le Jury (Ricardo Odriozola, Einar Røttingen, Jostein Stalheim)
October 2012
It is with great pride that we present this new Amethyst Records release. It is a collection of improvisations taken from a three-hour session in October 2002.
David Jackson is none other than the legendary Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist. Taking advantage of his week-long visit to Bergen at the beginning of October 2002, I booked a recording session at NRK Bergen with David Jackson and Le Jury.
Le Jury are an improvising trio outfit comprising pianist Einar Røttingen, accordion player and composer Jostein Stalheim and myself.
This CD is the edited result of that magical session. The playing is 100% ex-tempore. No discussion whatsoever took place before we began to play. Some astonishing music and improbable sounds arose as if from nowhere. We were fortunate to have it all expertly recorded by sound engineer Njaal Mangersnes and subsequently mastered at AIR studios in London by Matt Colton. The cover design is another fine job by Isabel Odriozola.
I believe this is extraordinary music and hope that you will share the wonderment and exhilaration the four of us felt that cold morning of October 3rd 2002 in the Bergen NRK headquarters.
Ricardo Odriozola, October 7th 2012
David Jackson and Le Jury (Ricardo Odriozola, Einar Røttingen, Jostein Stalheim)
October 2012
It is with great pride that we present this new Amethyst Records release. It is a collection of improvisations taken from a three-hour session in October 2002.
David Jackson is none other than the legendary Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist. Taking advantage of his week-long visit to Bergen at the beginning of October 2002, I booked a recording session at NRK Bergen with David Jackson and Le Jury.
Le Jury are an improvising trio outfit comprising pianist Einar Røttingen, accordion player and composer Jostein Stalheim and myself.
This CD is the edited result of that magical session. The playing is 100% ex-tempore. No discussion whatsoever took place before we began to play. Some astonishing music and improbable sounds arose as if from nowhere. We were fortunate to have it all expertly recorded by sound engineer Njaal Mangersnes and subsequently mastered at AIR studios in London by Matt Colton. The cover design is another fine job by Isabel Odriozola.
I believe this is extraordinary music and hope that you will share the wonderment and exhilaration the four of us felt that cold morning of October 3rd 2002 in the Bergen NRK headquarters.
Ricardo Odriozola, October 7th 2012
Postcards From Arlington
Ricardo Odriozola and Einar Røttingen
January 2011
I am very pleased to present this, the first release from Amethyst Records.
Arlington, Massachusetts, was where I took my last year of high school as an exchange student in 1982-83.
The two composers represented on this CD, Leslie Hurwitz (b. 1928) and Pasquale Tassone (b. 1949) are enduring friendships originating from that year. Throughout the years they have written a number of works for me.
The making of this CD had been in my mind for several years, and it is a fitting tribute to these two wonderful men that Amethyst Records' first release should be devoted to their music. There are pieces for violin and piano, solo violin and solo piano.
The choice of pianist was obvious: Einar Røttingen, the superb pianist from Bergen, Norway, who has been my musical cohort and good friend for some 26 years.
I am thrilled by all the music on this CD. Although originating from only two composers, the range of expression is very wide, from the romantic to the avant-garde, from the contemplative to the extroverted, from the philosophical to music for immediate enjoyment...
Do not be put off by the, perhaps, unfamiliar names of these composers. This is, first and foremost, music of very high quality, by turns delightful and challenging, always engaging and stimulating. I cannot recommend it enough.
Ricardo Odriozola, March 7th 2011
