From the Sweet-Scented Streams of Eternity – Norwegian Soloists' Choir

A meeting between Western music and Eastern mysticism.

This recording represents the realisation of a 20-year-old dream for composer Lasse Thoresen, an album of vocal music based on the Holy Scriptures of the Bahá´i religion. The Bahá´i Faith came into existence in the Middle East in the 19th century – an autonomous religion with an emphasis on unity, crossing the boundaries of race and religion. Lasse Thoresen has selected musical elements of the European and Norwegian tradition of vocal music to reflect the atmosphere and subject matter of the texts selected. As in all other great religions, there is in the Bahá´i Faith an essence of mysticism: The human spirit must undergo a metamorphosis and be transformed until it reflects divine qualities. Prayer and meditation are important means, and music can be used to further reinforce the effect of the process. For the composer himself, the hope is that this combination of sacred texts and music will give the listener an insight into the eternal and invisible kingdom, hidden in the hearts of men. To perform the deeply mystical, spiritual and religious works by Thoresen, is The Norwegian Soloists´ Choir, under conductor Grete Pedersen Helgerød, and soprano Anne-Lise Berntsen.