Helene Wold
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"Mit und ohne Worte"—with and without words.
Soprano Helene Wold and Vegard Lund on guitar and mandolin take us on a musical journey of twenty-two stops through a repertoire of classical Romanticism. Among our companions along the way are the composers Mozart, Schubert, Mertz, and Diabelli, who afford us a lovely and memorable listening experience. Moods arise, both bright and dark. Wold and Lund perform together on most of the numbers, but there are works for solo guitar as well. A good hour of exquisite listening pleasure for all lovers of classical music, and well worth checking out for those not in the fold.
Geir Hovensjø - Østlendingen

Up from the bottom of the treasure chest . . . These thoughts came to me this week while listening to a captivating release by the newly founded Norwegian recording company LAWO. The husband/wife duo consisting of soprano Helene Wold and guitarist Vegard Lund has produced a charming recording—one which in fact helps to dispel my concerns as to whether artists can really find their niche and have the courage to follow their convictions. There is much we have never heard before, but it has been a delight to listen to one unfamiliar song and one unfamiliar guitar piece after another. This is not to say that it is all "great" music; however, the manner in which these two artists present the music speaks of their sincere commitment and of their confidence in the viability of the repertoire. Songs of Diabelli, Spohr, and Giuliani are not part of our daily musical fare, but here indeed we are confronted with a few gems from a long-forgotten musical treasure chest. And they may have gone unnoticed had they been performed in a less distinctive manner than on the recording selected for this week's review. Helene Wold has a bright, scintillating voice, a soprano with distinct personal timbre and expression. She sings the texts well, although her diction could have been a smidgen sharper. Listen to how she lets the music linger on the word "athmet" in the second song by Spohr; or, in the same vein, how earnestly she phrases "stillt leis und sanft der Tod" at the end of cut number three. Her spritely charm manifests itself in the two Mozart romances with mandolin accompaniment, while the more dramatic features of her voice are accentuated in Schubert's "Der Wanderer". The closing lines of this piece are among the highlights of the recording. Vegard Lund contributes several solo numbers on guitar, of which Giuliani's "Variations on a Theme by Händel" is the most substantial. He, like his wife, is a natural musician without affectation, a quality perfectly suited to these lovely compositions. As stated earlier, not all is "great" music, but it is an extremely pleasant way to spend a leisure hour. One of the most honest recordings I have heard for a long time. Thanks to the artists.
Kjell Hillveg – Dagsavisen

Intimate On their recording "Lieder mit und ohne Worte" the husband/wife duo Helene Wold and Vegard Lund capture with elegant musicality the intimate expression of these songs—she with her bright, almost girlish soprano, and he with his subdued guitar accompaniment. One highlight is a dramatic version of Schubert's "Der Wanderer" . . . others include a careful and well-articulated interpretation of Giuliani's "Variations on a Theme by Händel" (op. 107), and—my personal favorite—a superb rendering of Schubert's "Lob der Tränen," skillfully transcribed for guitar by Johann Kaspar Mertz.
Peter Larsen – Bergens Tidende

These musicians show how guitar and voice were made for each other. And it is for this reason an exquisite recording. Helene Wold has an exceptionally lyrical soprano voice, which interprets each song with wonderful suppleness and fine diction. Vegard Lund adds his remarkably lucid and noise-free guitar accompaniment . . . It is intimacy that counts here, and clearly that is what stands out in this recording.
Hroar Klempe - Adresseavisen

Wold and Vegard Lund have gone looking for their songs in a number of different places. To be sure, Mozart and Schubert are included. But along with them we find little-known songs and guitar pieces by the likes of Ludwig Spohr, Johann Kaspar Mertz, and Anton Diabelli. And several of these less familiar numbers are among the loveliest on the recording. For example, Diabelli's "Musiklied," a homage and declaration of love to music, or the upbeat, driving dance rhythm in Spohr's "Lied beim Rundetanz."  Vegard Lund is also heard alone in subdued and supple interpretations of several solo guitar pieces. One highlight is Mauro Giuliani's "Variationen über ein Thema von Händel"--music which is agreeable and pleasing to listen to. The smaller format of voice and guitar permits more intimate interaction while at the same time requiring the singer and guitarist to be naturally attuned to each other-which indeed they are. This is a well-balanced and lovely- sounding recording. Many small, less ear-catching numbers, but lovely nonetheless.
Stine Frimann - Vårt Land

In Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Helene Wold was a touching Giulietta, the line sweetly sustained, the coloratura sure. and, what’s more, she offered proper trills.
David Blewitt/ The Stage 

Helene Wold’s Susanna charmed throughout and her beautiful rendering of the love song in the last act was a fitting climax to a fine portrayal.
James Butler/ The Western Morning News

Statements:

Peter Gellhorn F.G.S.M.:
”Helene Wold possesses a fine lyric soprano voice with a clear, ringing tone, which she handles with vocal skills and commendable musical intelligence.”

Iain Burnside:
”Helene is simply one of the most intelligent and musically instinctive singers I have had the pleasure of working with, of any age and stage. She has music coming out of every pore. In addition she possesses a very special quality in performance, a readiness to give of herself emotionally, which I personally find affecting in the extreme.”

Contact Helene Wold for more information:
Mob: + 47 4132 8175
helene-wold@hotmail.com