Randi Helseth sings Backer-Grøndahl songs!

The Norwegian soprano Randi Helseth* (1905-1991) sings six songs by the Norwegian pianist/composer Agathe Backer-Grøndahl** (1847-1907). The composer's son, Fridtjof Backer-Grøndahl (1885-1959), also a noted pianist/composer, is the pianist in this HMV recording (date unknown, but likely in the mid 1950's. My apologies for the poor condition of the audio, but I believed it important to share it for its historical value. Maybe one day a better copy of the recording will become available.

"Ved Sundet", op. 16, no. 2 0:00
"Østenvinden", op. 56, no. 2 3:52
"Paa Golfen", op. 54, no. 6 5:56
"Mot kveld", op. 42, no. 7 7:52
"Lind", op. 23, no. 1 10:18
"Romanse", op. 6, no. 2 12:36

The soprano was a celebrated opera singer with noted performances as Bizet's Micaëla; Verdi's Violetta, Desdemona, and Gilda; and Mozart's Cherubino, Queen of the Night, and Konstanze. She was also a highly regarded voice teacher.

** Pianist/composer Agathe Backer-Grøndahl was a student of Hans von Bülow and Liszt, among others. She was proclaimed one of the century's greatest pianists by the renowned critic George Bernard Shaw, who also remarked on the sensitiveness, symmetry and artistic economy of her compositions.