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Our Review

Wow. Before picking up Julevariasjoner, I was completely unfamiliar with the talented Wolfgang Plagge. A child prodigy, he has been big news on the classical music scene since he was 10 or 12 years old, writing and performing piano music (and winning awards!) all over Europe. He is a Norwegian pianist extraordinaire, and his Julevariasjoner ("Christmas Variations") is an instrumental tour de force.

This is holiday music, but you will recognize very little--either because these Norwegian favorites are not familiar here or because Plagge's creative "variations" take us far afield from the original melodies. With the exception of Hoyr kor englehaeren ("Hark the Herald"), O [Little Town of] Betlehem, and Det Hev Ei Rosa Sprunge ("Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"), these tracks covered apparently new ground for me. No matter -- this is solo piano music of the loveliest sort, and it has superb replay value throughout the year. Your visitor will hear the wash of wonderful piano pieces in July, never tasting any out-of-place holiday flavor.

Both versions of Kling No Klokka deserve special mention. The first (track V) presents gentle cascades that convey the fragility of a first snowfall. The second version (track XII) is equally winning, and Plagge's bright, dancing touch on Her Kommer Dine Arme Sma exudes joy.

Really, the music is all beautiful. The mood is largely contemplative, and Plagge plays with thoughtful and warm precision. Even his pauses are poetic!

Wolfgang Plagge's Julevariasjoner is captivating, even if you are not Norwegian. Pianophiles, take note! This one is terrific!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the Liner Notes:

Improvised variations over the Season's most beloved songs and tunes.


From the Website:

Wolfgang Plagge was born in 1960 in Oslo, Norway. He started with music at a very young age and had an extensive pianistic career already as a child. As a composer he also had an early start; his first published work was written when he was 12 years old. Later he studied composition in Oslo and in Hamburg. Plagge is much sought after internationally as a pianist, composer and pedagogue, and his works are performed frequently.

Christmas is a season of expectation, peace and joy. However, joy can easily be overrun by stress and hurry and turn peace into loneliness. At this point give yourself a break, sit down with pianist Wolfgang Plagge and let your mind come to rest while the sweetest sounds of Christmas fill your room.

The Inspiration of the Moment is of fundamental significance to any type of connection between human beings, in music as well as in speech. All tracks on this cd are results of spontaneously improvised variations over the Season¿s most beloved songs and tunes. The recording is produced by Morten Lindberg.

Wolfgang Plagge

Julevariasjoner

Artist link

Track List