Pauline Hall – Norwegian Radio Orchestra

Unconventional and continental

Pauline Hall was for half a century one of the most outstanding, active and many-sided personalities in Norwegian musical life. She made her mark in a wide range of spheres: as composer, initiator, administrator, organiser, music and theatre critic, accompanist and conductor – to mention just a few. Her like has been rare in Norway.

Though elsewhere in Europe much that was new in music emerged between 1920 and 1950, in Norway during those years´ musical life was rather conservative and national in character. When many Norwegian composers and critics kept themselves aloof from radical European influences, Pauline Hall looked to France for an alternative to the German dominance over music in Norway, and became an exponent of the French-inspired style, with its roots in the works of Debussy, Ravel and Les Six. Hall became one of the principal adversaries of conformity, narrow-mindedness and nationalism, and worked tirelessly to promote contemporary music. She exceeded many conventions, was one of the foremost and first female symphonic composers in the Nordic countries, and was a highly significant contributor in making Norwegian cultural life bold and innovative. On this album the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra, under conductor Christian Eggen, and the Bergen Wind Quintet, performs some of Pauline Hall´s most beautiful orchestral and chamber works.