Malmö Opera Orchestra, Arnold Östman - Romantic Opera in Sweden, Vol. 11: Tirfing (2026)

Tracklist

01. Tirfing, Op. 15: Prelude. Förspel
02. Tirfing, Op. 15: Prelude. Vad vill du min pojke
03. Tirfing, Op. 15: Prelude. Hervor! Din dotter
04. Tirfing, Op. 15: Prelude. Ske då din vilja!
05. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Inledning
06. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Lillsyster, Gullväg!
07. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Nej, jag jublar och skrattar
08. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Orkestermellanspel I
09. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Så, Hervadur och Gullväg
10. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Orkestermellanspel II
11. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Var välkommen min vän
12. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act I: Du får mig gäcka
14. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Sagt!
15. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Ur mörkret
16. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Nu Gullväg är stunden inne
17. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Tjänare är han
18. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Hell! Hell!
19. Tirfing, Op. 15, Act II: Orkestermellanspel III
20. Tirfing, Op. 15: Epilog
21. Tirfing, Op. 15: Jag rädes

The Malmo orchestra and choir perform the romantic opera Tirfing by Wilhelm Stenhammer. Stenhammar studied piano, organ and composition and made his debut as a pianist in the spring of 1892. He began composing at around the same time. In October 1897, he made his first public appearance as a conductor. As a composer, he was initially influenced by Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner, but eventually turned away from German music and strove for a Nordic style. he composed Tirfing in 1898, making it one of his early works. It tells the story of Hervor, who, in order to protect herself, asks for the magical sword Tirfing from her deceased father. He decrees from the grave that she must always appear as a man and so she receives the sword. Some trials and tribulations follow, and her comrade Vidar's sister falls in love with her, but since Hervor cannot return this love, Vidar demands a duel. As Tirfing always wins, he dies and Hervor is declared an outlaw by the king. She returns the sword at her father's grave and also dies.

This album features a recording from 2011. The leading role is sung by the internationally renowned Martina Dike, who is also very well known in Germany. The bass-baritone and actor Bengt Ingvar Krantz, who is very popular in Sweden, is Hervor's father (and King Gudmundur) and Daniel Hällström, who is also popular in Sweden, sings the role of Vidar. Arnold Östman conducts the Malmö Orchestra and the Malmö Choir. Among other things, he has made a name for himself by tracking down forgotten operas in European music archives and performing some of them.