Lotusland – Symphonic Works by Arvid Kleven

Self-taught as a composer, Kleven at the age of 23 produced Lotusland, his first orchestral work, and was praised as a master of orchestration. Skogens søvn incorporates certain avant-garde tendencies and shows Kleven starting on a path towards expressionism. The 1926 première of Symphonic Fantasy turned into the greatest musical scandal of the decade.

Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki was director of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra during 2002-2005. She has conducted contemporary works assisting Thomas Adès at the Almeida Theatre and also guest conducting with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.