“(Der Bund, Switzerland)“"Anything else but a success is unthinkable with the Swedish oboist Helen Jahren. The five very different pieces didn't reveal the slightest technical insecurity. Powerful sound, mostly inaudible breathing, command of the music and skilfulness were to her benefit. More important were the spacious flexibility of her performance, the lively structured echoes, the strikingly rounded phrases, a convincing interpretation of transitions. Her range from beautifully sounding piano to energetic forte underlined the solo qualities."”
“(Borås Tidning, Sweden)“"A triumph for Jahren." "The whole evening was a triumph for this technically brilliant artist, with serious concentration in the interpretation and a burning intensity of expression, the concert felt like a rebirth. New. Naked. Intimate."”
“(Helsingin Sanomat, Finland)“"The brilliant oboist Helen Jahren had practically no chance at all to rest. Ceaseless runs, wild leaps, glissandi and piercing high notes made sure that she was kept busy all the time. Kaipainen has spitefully put a few places in his concerto that, with the oboists' normal technique, are simply impossible to play. To Helen Jahren they caused no difficulties at all."”
“(Voix du Nord, France)“"The high point of the evening was the excellence of the soloist: Helen Jahren, whose brilliance became fully apparent in Bach's oboe concerto."”
“(Aftenposten, Norway)“"Jahren, who on earlier occasions has displayed unusual competence in playing contemporary music, opened after the intermission with Berio's Sequenza VII. She performed it with dazzling virtuosity and had no difficulty in moulding the material convincingly through Berio's innumerable technical challenges. Musically it was also exquisitely shaped."”
“(Dagens Nyheter, Sweden)“"The Oboe with the Immortal Sound" "…with the completely brilliant Helen Jahren. The music comes and goes in the extremes and is fired by Jahren with such power and such a sensational quality that the most fantastic effects appear."”
“(Berner Zeitung, Switzerland)“"Self-confident Jahren took on the charmingly vital Oboe Concerto by Martinu: virtuoso, lively, rhythmically precise and captivating, she did full justice to this gorgeous opus."”
“(El Pais, Uruguay)“"The level of the soloists moved between the excellence of Helen Jahren, the skill of Julio Levinas and the perfect but impersonal conduct of Chapuis. In Bach the Swedish oboist gave proof of her wonderful sound, her instrumental ability and her fresh and vital musical interpretation."”
“(Jyllandsposten, Denmark)“"...eminent oboe playing by Helen Jahren."”
“(Dagens Nyheter, Sweden)“"The oboist Jahren was a completely astonishing soloist; she is gradually developing into a world name. With superior mastery, she flirted with the virtuoso part in Ekström's concerto. There is, however, more than technique to the former student of Holliger: elegance and the ability to animate the most subtle changes of colour are just as important qualities."”
“(Göteborgs-posten, Sweden)“"Jahren sucked the lollipop (Bellini) with her very individual, full, smooth almost creamy and uniquely nuanced tone."”
“(Voix du Nord, France)“"…Bach's oboe concerto, performed by a marvellous oboist: Helen Jahren. One can give no higher praise than to recommend the concert to all lovers of music."”
“(Südkurier, Germany)“"The chamber music concert offered not only a programme of rare works with unusual instrumentation, but, with the Swedish Jahren sisters, much more: two artists who knew how to demonstrate their great knowledge of the demanding pieces. 'Improvisazion' by the twelve tone composer Seiber showed the oboe as a particularly mobile and variable instrument when played with the virtuosity of Helen Jahren. The same was confirmed in the Metamorphoses by Britten, the central piece of the concert."”
“(Expressen, Sweden)“"Then came the really interesting Concerto by Daniel Börtz, with the phenomenal soloist Helen Jahren. Rarely have I heard Börtz so expressive and inspired as in this piece, so suggestive that one sadly longed for it in the following silence. Pictorially and olfactorily, it opened a sensual, almost tropical environment, with Jahren's oboe as a glowing guide."”
“(Diario Insular Menorca, Spain)“"Jahren revealed, from the very first moment, her profound harmony with the oboe. In every moment she brought forth from her instrument a clean and broad sound, pleasant and varied, expressive, full of contrasts and agile, alive and not simply academic."”
“(Ulmer Kulturspiegel, Germany)“"More substance have the ascetic sound pictures in Berio's Sequenza for oboe, where Helen Jahren knew how to use the freedom of the instrumental action in a splendid way (expressive spontaneity while still holding on to the structure)."”
“(Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Sweden)“"The doors to an international career are open for oboist Helen Jahren. She journeys through the music with maturity, virtuosity and elegance."”
“(Viborg Stifts Folkeblad, Denmark )“"A formidable soloist". "...an impressive virtuosity on her instrument. Her breathing is perfect, her fingers are fast and her artistry allows her to form every piece in deep accord with the composer's poetic ideas."”
“(Nordlandsposten, Norway)“"Jahren is a great virtuoso on her instrument."”
“(Arbetet, Sweden)“"Her tone is quite remarkable, full, intense and full of nuances. Her technique is unfailing, at any pitch or tempo, and her artistry has total freshness."”
“(Les Nouvelles d'Orleans, France)“"… but above all, a Swedish jewel, Helen Jahren, a wonderful musician whose playing displays none of the difficulties which the oboe presents. Her tone is warm and full and her breath control is astounding. "…"Her performance of Bach's oboe concerto confirmed all our highest opinions of Helen Jahren."”
“(Lublin, Poland)“"Precision and thoroughness, lightness and finesse are the characteristics of her playing. She is captivating in the lyrical passages, and secure in the virtuosic."”
“(El Pais, Uruguay)“"The incredible credentials of this former student of the great Heinz Holliger were not false. The Swedish oboist has an exceptionally wonderful sound of high suggestive power and her execution has the spell of spontaneity and of inborn musical feeling. Her interpretation was of an exquisite transparency and of an unquestionable authenticity."”
“(Norra Västerbotten, Sweden)“"Her tone is indescribably beautiful, full, changing and intense. Her technique appears dependable in all situations and her artistry has an appealing freshness. Add to that a depth and maturity that transforms elegant phrases to musical sentences."”
“(DV, Iceland)“"Jahren is a very fine oboe player. Her technique is extraordinary, and things like multiphonics and double flageolets almost seem as something normal. Her sound is free and direct, and I presume that she has cultivated this during her time of study with her Central European masters."”
“(Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Sweden)“"Jahren is a musician who with ever increasing weight shows her international class. Her technique is superb, an astonishingly nuanced and virtuosic style unites her with the human maturity that transforms elegant phrases to musical sentences. In such company Vernon Handley thrived. Their meeting was a deeply entertaining creative duet."”
“(Dagbladet, Denmark)“"The eminent Swedish oboist Helen Jahren, and Hans Krarup immediately found each other in an inspiring duet. It was a real pleasure and a delight for the ear to hear Krebs and Telemann. In the Korean composer Isang Yun's terribly difficult 'Piri' for oboe solo, Jahren displayed that it's no coincidence that she has won numerous prizes and competitions. With superior technique she gave us an insight into the world of modern man."”
“(Norrköpings Tidning, Sweden)“"The concerto (R.Strauss) was congenially performed by the soloist Helen Jahren. Her handling of the instrument was supreme and totally at one with the orchestra."”