Yellow Sands - Sæther, Daniel (countertenor)

YELLOW SANDS

The acclaimed Norwegian countertenor Daniel Sæther presents Yellow Sands, a compelling new album featuring four major vocal cycles by contemporary Norwegian composers Gisle Kverndokk, Bjørn Kruse, Lene Grenager, and Herman Vogt. With a distinctive focus on newly composed repertoire for countertenor, Yellow Sands explores poetic and spiritual themes through diverse musical lenses.

The title cycle, Yellow Sands by Gisle Kverndokk, sets four lyrical texts from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, combining lush harmonies with theatrical expression. Bjørn Kruse’s Tre Canzoni offers sensuous Italian settings of poems from the Renaissance, including Lorenzo de’ Medici’s famous Trionfo di Bacco ed Arianna. Lene Grenager's evocative and dramatic Then the Lord Spoke to the Fish and it Vomited Jonah out upon Dry Land takes listeners deep into the biblical story of Jonah with inventive textures and bold sonic storytelling. Herman Vogt’s Vinterblommer concludes the album with four introspective settings of Norwegian poetry that reflect on nature, fragility, and faith.

Daniel Sæther, praised for his expressive range and crystalline tone, is joined by a handpicked ensemble of leading Norwegian musicians. Together they bring to life a program that expands the contemporary countertenor repertoire while offering a rich listening experience that moves between tradition, myth, and modernity.

This release underscores Sæther’s commitment to artistic collaboration and his role as a leading interpreter of new Nordic vocal music.