International reviews

– about the music of Fred Jonny Berg

Emily Beynon, flute (1, 5-8)
Catherine Beynon, harp (1)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor (1, 5-8)
Fred Jonny Berg, conductor (2-4)

FLUTE MYSTERY was nominated for a GRAMMY 2010 in the category Best Surround Sound Album.

– Fred Jonny Berg is a major musical discovery. It would be necessary to rewind to the 1940s and Malcolm Arnold to find an emerging composer of such exceeding promise. His compositions are confidently tonal, fluently melodious and possessed of virtually supernatural penetrative power. The flute works receive achingly beautiful, indeed enchanting, performances from Emily Beynon and the Philharmonia under Vladimir Ashkenazy (Berg conducts the other pieces). This set is recommended for any collector seeking the refined side of contemporary music.
La Scena, Canada, November, 2009

Listening to this disc introduced the writer to the pleasant new discovery of the music of Fred Jonny Berg. This innovative Norwegian composer (born in 1973) has written prolifically for a wide range of instruments and instrumental combinations, including the flute and flute family, with compositions being dedicated and performed by such esteemed flautists as James Galway and Emily Beynon. His works are accessible yet distinctive, are largely tonal, colourful and melodic with a convincing emotional pull. The originality of his music can perhaps be linked to his wide experience in range of other areas such as film making, writing, directing and singing.
Flute Focus, April 2010

The performances, it need hardly be said given the stature of the musicians, are impeccable. Emily Beynon is as good a flute player as has walked the earth, and she clearly enjoys playing this music. Few recordings have given me such pleasure.
PAN Magazine, September 2009

Berg's musical paintings were brought to life by none other than the great Vladimir Ashkenazy leading the Philharmonia Orchestra. The performances match the compositions beautifully, covering the whole dynamic range from very quiet to thunderously majestic. (....) 2L has done it again. With beautiful renditions of Norwegian Fred Jonny Berg's music that have been flawlessly recorded, one can sit back and enjoy the visuals flashing by the inner eye while being surrounded by a fabulous sounding orchestra. As an avid film lover with a large number of movie scores in his CD collection, but also as a classical music aficionado and someone who appreciates well done surround recordings, I can only highly recommend this Blu-ray Audio Disc. Reference quality!
6moons, February 2010

Music by Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg is featured on this CD. The impressive quality and clarity of the recording immediately stands out, portraying Berg's expressive and rich language in the best possible way.
Flutist Quartely, Spring 2010

The aptly named 'Flute Mystery', the work that opens this programme, has an ethereal quality and immediate appeal due to its strong melodic content and transparent orchestration

(flute, harp and strings). The outstanding principal flute of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Emily Beynon, and her sister the harpist Catherine Beynon play this ravishing piece with consummate skill, while Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia's accompaniment is wonderfully refined. 
SA-CD.net, June 2009 ***** / *****

Berg's piece alluding to the mountains is from a score he created for a film with the same title.  He depicts mountain panoramas in his own way, and rather than the alpine peaks of some romantic composers, his are the rougher peaks of northern Norway.  The Flute Concerto returns to something of the quieter and more contemplative mood of the opening piece. An impression of calm pervades the music without the use of minimalism or other modern devices. 
Audiophile Edition, June 2009 *****

Berg's original, soulful and richly rewarding music is brilliantly performed on this ground-breaking recording.
New Classics, June 2009

Latest Articles & Reviews on FLUTE MYSTERY

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Pages in Norwegian

• Klassisk Musikkmagasin November 2009

• Klassisk Musikkmagasin May 2009

• AN
  

• Saltenposten May 19, 2009

• Dagsavisen June 6, 2009

Other Articles & Reviews

– For Berg is a composer with a very original way of writing tonal, approachable music, using diatonic, polytonal and modal harmonies, building effective spans of tension and release, able to produce powerful, driving and energetic music (the film music Vicino alla Montagna which depicts the rugged mountains of Norway and the giddily threatening Warning Zero) as well as to conjure soundscapes of mystical calm and peace (Flute Mystery and the concerto, written for and premiered by these forces just six months ago). And all without a hint of minimalism or neo-romantic pastiche.
(Records International, August 2009)

– Galway formed a sinuous bond with the orchestra in the world premiere of Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg's "Flute Mystery," Concerto for Alto Flute and Orchestra. Berg writes music of a spare beauty. The 15-minute, one-movement piece merges cool restraint and rhythmic exactitude. Galway, to whom Berg dedicated the score, played his languid lines with sympathy and dark polish.
(Washington Post, October 6, 2006) Flute Mystery op.66a

– Fred Jonny Berg has given the world yet another timeless classic piece with Flute Sonata no.1 op.40 and should be heralded for his tremendous effort and choice of musicians for this grand masterpiece! 
(Gods of Music, 2001). Flute Sonata no. 1 op.40

– The music grasps me because it is a structured piece that has an improvised feel. The music starts off in one direction that soon changes from rhythm-bound to free-track in one moment, before it restructures itself in a adagio part that sounds like random themes put together, only fooling me until I have a second listen; there is structure, one level up. 
(Gods of Music, 2001). Violin Sonata no.1 op.50

Fred Jonny Berg. Photo: Tomas Evjen

– There are several elements in this piece which makes classical music shine throughout! Not only does this music make the genre itself more exciting, but it will surely prove to electronic-only fans that classical is a genre to behold for its honesty, richness, and imaginative nature. All this, with just a piano!! It is amazing that so much emotion can be thrown into one piece of music. With all this emotion in there I find it hard to believe that a track of any kind would make any sence. But it seems that here too Fred Jonny Berg scores. He has managed to keep the structure intact, and the whole thing flows very nicely. (…) In today's world, we have with almost no exception "freedom of speech." I believe that this right is equally so for music, and if Fred Jonny Berg "has a dream" I'll be sure to listen. 
(Gods of Music 2001). "People of Blue Dimension op.4a"

– This is a fresh and individual voice, always direct in communication with
the listener and yet with many surprises. I look forward to performing it in
it's home territory.
(Pianist Andrew Ball, 2008)

– Fred Jonny Berg well understands the expressive possibilities of the flute,
and writes charming and appealing music for it. He has a style of his own,
which is characterised by twists and turns and sudden flashes of colour.
(Flutist Judith Hall, 2008)

– Fred (or Jonny, whichever he prefers) has managed to extract the freedom and flexibility from that minimalism, seeing it more as a cause for intimacy than a barrier to complexity. And by God, it works well. Listen to this whether you're into classical or not. 
(Omnia Music, 2001 winner of contest). "Violin Sonata no.1 op.50"

– Following Rossini it was Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg's Flute Mystery that took over, receiving its world premier by the famous flutist. The young (33) autodidact from north of the Arctic Circle finished this work for flute, string orchestra, and harp before offering the dedication to Mr. Galway. Mr. Galway's acceptance is already telling about the work: melody and tunefulness are more important than wilful exploration of random sound-worlds while challenging the soloists to the very limits of his technical abilities. (Galway is said to have suggested to a composer of just such a modern piece that he pay him – Galway – for his practice time if he was to accept the dedication.)

Flute Mystery is one long lyrical, even sedate, passage that leads into a bird-fluttering, friendly-busy section (it comes across like sitting around with a somber Norwegian all night and then catching him laugh out loud, suddenly) before receding into calm. (…) 
(ionarts 06.10.2006) "Flute Mystery op.66a"

(…) The Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra offers a new way of enjoying music to classical music lovers. (…) you will not be able to get over your astonishment: Montagna con Forza is an exceptional audiovisual experience (…). Peerless landscape impressions, which perfectly complement the music, enchant the spectator of this DVD. (…) 
(DigitalVD, Germany, 2004) "Montagna con Forza"

– "Montagna con Forza", first part of a film quatrology, offers an exceptional audiovisual experience (…). Around a beautiful lake amidst the untouched, dramatic landscape of Norway, we follow a boat on its way through the water. In the course of this journey, we will absorb the massive emotional power and the wonderful harmony of this unique landscape (…) 
(Amazon, 2004) "Montagna con Forza"

– Fred Jonny Berg's music reaches into your heart and soul, and it presents you with many surprises. The music is fascinating - that is what is essential to me. It creates reactions and is appealing. I know that an increasing number will become aware of this special and talented composer. I hope that more orchestras will perform his music.
(Ari Rasilainen, Avisa Nordland, 2002)

– For a long period of time and at the same time being increasingly overwhelmed, I have followed the composer Fred Jonny Berg's artistic undertakings. For fifteen years, I have known him as one of the most talented Norwegian composers of his generation. His will to innovate and be creative is quite astonishing. His multi faceted intellectual and proficient technical background have made him capable of integrating modern techniques into his art like few others have done before him — without making the music sound artificial or pretentious. He has been able to combine more conventional settings that result in highly original outcomes. He has always avoided being trapped inside the complexity of –isms; thus he is indisputably one of the most inspired and original Norwegian composers of today. Fred Jonny Berg is one of the first Norwegian composers that has fully understood how to unite motion pictures with the soundscape of classical music. Lately, he has been working on how to implement his strongly visual music into the film medium.

His first product in that respect, the DVD "Montagna con Forza", is a sensation: artistically and creatively a par with the audiovisual works of Philip Glass. The music is fused into the pictures and the pictures melt into the music in such a manner that the audience feel that they take part in a life-journey, as it were. The two artistic aspects are so well brought together and form such an intense unit, that it becomes an impossible task to pick out which factor makes the stronger impression. To say the least, this piece of work represents something completely new within the field of music (…) 
(W. Plagge, pianist & composer, 2004).

Other reviews at Gods of Music

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Some comments in Norwegian:

– Noen ganger er musikken og bildene så inderlig vakre at du bare må lukke øynene og nyte. Man fryser på ryggen, blir varm og smiler om hverandre, mens musikken og bildene griper fast i selve sjela og holder deg fast.
(Saltenposten, 2003). Etter en kinovisning av "Montagna con Forza"

– Han evner å skape troverdige stemninger, og kan gi store opplevelser til dem som lytter med åpent sinn. (...) Det skulle ikke forbause meg om han får stor plass når historien om vår tids musikk en gang skal skrives. Han mener det er kort vei fra drøm til virkelighet i hans liv og musikk. Vi kan jo drømme om at ny musikk og publikum kan komme på talefot i neste århundre. Det virker mer sannsynlig på meg nå enn det gjorde før denne konsertopplevelsen. 
(Helgeland Arbeiderblad, 1999). Etter en konsert med Vefsn-ensemblet

– Derfor var det litt av ei feststemning etter dette verket som tydelig hadde noe helt nytt ved seg og likevel kommuniserte. Vonar vi får høre det igjen ved seinare høve. 
(Harstad Tidene, 2000). Etter en konsert på ILIOS-festivalen

– Berg ble belønnet med lange og hjertelige applauser. Man hørte også at noen ropte Bravo. (...) Fred Jonny Berg sine komposisjoner trenger ikke noen kodeløsere eller samlede forklaringer for sin støtte. Man kommer inn i stemningen av seg selv. (...)Fred Jonny Bergs symfoniske dikt "Randi" slutter med dempende toner. Kjærlig og håpefull stemning smyger inn i sjelen til lytteren. Når musikken tok slutt måtte man gispe dypt: vakkert! Verdenspremiere til Bergs verk ble en suksess. 
(Keskisuomalainen, Finland 1998. Oversatt av Vesa Jäntti). Etter en konsert med Jyvaskyla Sinfonia

A Free-scores.com service - Fred Jonny Berg on Free-scores.com