Britta Byström’s music tells stories and builds structures, all from the clearest and most evocative of ingredients. Her ear for colour and her willingness to be led by instinct are both apparent on the four works included on this album, documenting Athelas Sinfonietta’s enthusiasm for the Swedish composer.

The style of Swedish composer Britta Byström includes a sparse elegance, stern playfulness and a minimalistic tendency to spin out entire works from a single chord, shape or theme.

Byström has written operas, orchestral and vocal works and reflected on big existential and social themes such as climate change and the challenges of the Nordic Sámi population.

The album Letter in April includes four chamber and solo works, shedding light on different sides of her production.

The title work Letter in April is influenced by the music of Olivier Messiaen and takes on the lyrical verbal style of Danish poet Inger Christensens and her collection Letter in April, dealing with themes of love and loss, slow transformations and the coming of spring.

Baum in der Stadt for solo violin won the solo category at the so-called Swedish Chamber Games 2020. The work is recorded by Anne Søe, one of Denmark’s most experienced and dedicated musicians in new music.

The string quartet Images from the Floating World consists of six short movements, echoing elements of Icelandic folk song and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony no.3 among others.