Today's Video of the Day takes us on a reflective journey into the Nordic landscape, courtesy of violinist Johan Dalene and pianist Christian Ihle Hadland. Their new album on BIS, Nordic Rhapsody, features works by six composers from the region. Their film below is of the opening movement from one of those works, Einojuhani Rautavaara's Notturno e danza.

The performance is interspersed with visual imagery. 'I wanted the Nordic landscape imagery to both conjure a sense of flow and subtle movement but at the same time to slightly counter the beautiful melancholic sensibility of the music by adding both lightness and colour abstraction,' explains video producer Peter Norrmann. 'It was a way to sharpen the listening and not to compete with it.'

The winner of the prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition in 2019, and member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme, Johan Dalene's recording of Tchaikovsky and Barber's violin concertos was an Editor's Choice back in February: 'from the shaping of his solo entrance in the Tchaikovsky alone,' wrote review Edward Seckerson, 'there’s a "presence" about Johan Dalene’s playing that announces a musician of special sensibilities. It’s amazing how quickly one can tell.'

Christian Ihle Hadland, meanwhile, has also earned praise in our pages, most recently with an album of quintets for piano and winds by Mozart, Beethoven and Danzi, reviewed in March 2020.

You can listen to their new album, released on the BIS label, below.