The songs on this album are played in a version for violin and piano. With the exception of a few passages played an octave higher than the voice part, everything else is performed in accordance with the original score. To give the listener the opportunity to enjoy the almost symbiotic relationship between poems and music, the booklet offers all poems that Grieg and Sibelius use in their music. This may give an interesting insight into the creative musical process. Helge Slaatto (born 1952) was concertmaster of Odense Symphony Orchestra, Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen and Randers Chamber Orchestra. For 25 years he was professor at the Hochschule für Musik der Universität Münster, presently he teachers at MGK Copenhagen. He gave master classes throughout the world and his students won prizes at major international competitions. They were also awarded the special prize of Deutsche Schallplattenkritik.