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Helen Jahren

is one of today’s most prominent oboe soloists and a former student of the legendary Heinz Holliger. She has performed as a soloist throughout Europe, South America, the United States and the Far East, collaborating with eminent conductors like Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Neeme Järvi, Thomas Dausgaard and Sakari Oramo. She has also given recitals in Vienna, Milan, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Geneva, Munich, Tokyo and elsewhere.
Helen has received several international prizes and awards as well as national ones, and her discography includes concertos by Mozart, J C Bach, Schnittke, Kaipainen and others, as well as solo and chamber music by Britten, Doráti, Martinu, Krenek and Schoenberg on the BIS, Caprice, Ondine and Phono Suecia labels.

Helen Jahren’s repertoire naturally includes the classics of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras, but she also takes a great interest in contemporary music. More than 50 composers worldwide have written pieces especially for her, inspired by her expressive command of the instrument, among them Erik Bergman, Sven-David Sandström, Poul Ruders, Anders Eliasson and Jouni Kaipainen.

Helen Jahren has given numerous master classes around the world and has been invited as professor of oboe at the Carl Nielsen Academy of Music at Odense in Denmark. In 1998 she was elected a life member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Helen Jahren Discography

01.

Caprice Records, CAP 21596 27 sek

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Oboe Concerto in C major
Johann Christian Bach: Oboe Concerto no.1 in F major and no.2 in F major
Guiseppe Ferlendis: Oboe Concerto in F major
(with Musica Vitae, Peter Csaba)

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02.

Phono Suecia, PSCD 128 37 sek

Daniel Börtz: Oboe Concerto, Kithairon for Oboe Solo
Lars Ekström: Oboe Concerto, The accelerating Ice-cube for Oboe Solo
Göran Gamstorp: Oboe Concerto, Pulse for Oboe Solo
(with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer)

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03.

Ondine, ODE 855-2 34 sek

(with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo)

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04.

BIS, CD 377 33 sek

Alfred Schnittke: Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Strings
(with Kjell-Axel Lier, New Stockholm Chamber Orchestra, Lev Markiz)

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05.

Phono Suecia, PSCD 53 37 sek

Anders Nilsson: ”Ariel”, Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra
(with the Tapiola Sinfonietta, Bjarte Engeseth)

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06.

Malmö Audioproduktion, MAP R 8606 27 sek

Bengt Hambraeus: Sheng for oboe and organ
Rolf Martinsson: Lontano for oboe and organ
Johannes Johansson: Einige Veränderungen II for oboe and organ
(with Hans-Ola Ericsson organ)

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07.

BIS, CD 460 34 sek

Johan Helmich Roman: Concerto Grosso in B flat major
(with Musica Vitae, Wojciech Rajski)

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08.

BIS, CD 427 36 sek

Alfred Schnittke: Concerto Grosso No.4 / Symphony No.5
(with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi)

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09.

BIS, CD 473/474 38 sek

Lars-Erik Larsson: Concertino for oboe and String Orchestra
(with the Musica Vitae, Lennart Hedwall)

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10.

Aurora, ACD 4977 35 sek

Asbjørn Schaathun: A Tabular System…
(with the Oslo Sinfonietta, Christian Eggen)

11.

Bohuslav Martinu: Oboe Quartet 35 sek

Bohuslav Martinu: Oboe Quartet

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12.

Phono Suecia, PSCD 80 35 sek

André Chini: Illusions/Allusions

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Reviews on Discography

Reviews on CAPRICE CAP 21596

“…a complete master of the instrument.” “obvious facility.” “…her musicality is very fine indeed.”
(American Record Guide, 2001)
“Masterly oboe”
“In four oboe concertos Helen Jahren’s masterly playing approaches the zenith”
(Dagens Nyheter, 2001)
“An even greater world grows from the oboe concertos on her CD. Enlarge your cerebral cortex!! Heat and coolness silently run together.”
(Vision, 2001)
“This is really good!”
(Upsala Nya Tidning, 2001)
“…perfectly matched by Helen Jahren’s committed and utterly lively playing.”
(Helsingborgs Dagblad, 2001)
“Scandinavian monarch of the oboe repertoire”
(Expressen, 2001)
“Helen Jahren performs here with secure virtuosity, elevating the solo passages to new heights. It’s for her’s sake one wants to recommend the recording.”
(Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 2001)
“Helen Jahren is one of our finest instrumentalists. With her oboe she has enchanted the friends of classical music for over ten years, and they won’t be disappointed with her new CD”
(Kvällsposten, 2001)
“…with a brilliant Helen Jahren in the centre.”
(Nerikes Allehanda, 2001)
“When you have listened to this record there is absolutely no doubt that Helen Jahren is one of the world’s very best oboists” “Her clear and pure oboe tone is in splendid harmony and contrast with the strings of Musica Vitae”“This is a record that will surely be among the favourites.”
(Värnamo Nyheter, 2001)
“It’s as if the gates of heaven open themselves and the divine music, in the shape of Helen Jahren’s delicate oboe voice, streams out. This is wonderful music, virtuosically performed in an elegant and charming style by the beautiful sounding chamber orchestra Musica Vitae and its non pareil soloist Helen Jahren.”
(Länstidningen Östersund, 2001)
“Helen Jahren is one of today’s leading soloists. With her brilliant technique and artistic supremacy she has gained respect over the whole world and has collaborated with many great conductors.Together with Musica Vitae she delivers airy and playful interpretations of highest class.”
(Skånska Dagbladet, 2001)

Reviews on Phono Suecia, PSCD 128 “Oboe con forza”

“…a demonstration of a rich musicianship’s ability to be a source of inspiration for new compositions” “Playing with a strong personality in which the oboe, in its elegant nudity, engraves bright lines in the clear air.
(Svenska Dagbladet, 2001)
“Here you have an oboist with a gorgeous tone and with true temperament.”
(Blekinge Läns Tidning, 2001)
“… extraordinary musical adventures await you in these tracks.”
(Musikindustrin, 2001)
”…there is both spirit and vigour and an evident, but indefinable curiosity in her way of playing.” “There are few performers that equal Helen Jahren in her ability to infuse contemporary music with vitality and warmth.”
(Norra Västerbotten, 2001)
“Tiny Sweden has, in the classical field too, a disproportionately large number of fine soloists. The oboist Helen Jahren is one of them. This album offers plenty of suggestively exciting music, alternately challenging and beauteous,intimate and expressive. Solo, or with a large orchestra behind her, Helen Jahren plays with meticulous skill on her instrument which is so difficult to master, but never lets technique become an end in itself.”
(Upsala Nya Tidning, 2001)
“Since she has a deep understanding of contemporay music, she is one of the few oboists through whom today’s composers can express themselves using this instrument.”“Jahren gives the oboe a complex personality with a great span, far from the excessive sentimentality which the oboe is frequently smeared with.”
(Kristianstadbladet, 2001)

Reviews on ONDINE ODE 855-2

”The splendid Oboe Concerto is outwardly of a lighter disposition than the symphony, but highly virtuosic, delivered with breathtaking aplomb by its dedicatee, Helen Jahren.”
(Gramophone, 1996)
”… the Oboe Concerto, exquisitely interpreted by its dedicatee, Helen Jahren”
(Diapason, France 1996)
”Soloist Helen Jahren reveals unassailable control and tonal distinction.”
(Fanfare, USA 1996)
”But the crowning glory of the disc is the Oboe Concerto with its virtuoso outbursts separated by a Bachian slow movement, exquisitely played by Swedish oboist Helen Jahren”
(Nordic Sounds, 1996)
“the soloist’s role is singularly demanding. The Swedish soloist Helen Jahren definitely had her work cut out in delivering the first performance.”
(Finnish Music Quarterly, 1996)

Reviews on BIS CD-377

“In the concerto for oboe and harp – dazzlingly performed with long clear lines and almost hysterical intensity by Helen Jahren, seconded by Kjell-Axel Lier – the pain from the loss of two dead friends, is legitimated.”
(Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden)
“The concerto for oboe, harp and strings is modernistic in a more conventional style, but is elevated here through Helen Jahren’s breathtakingly virtuoso playing.”
(Arbetet, Sweden)
“In the concerto for oboe and harp Helen Jahren, with her superb playing, draws bright patterns in Schnittke’s magical darkness. There is an intense sense of tragedy long before the great outburst.”
(Musikrevy, Sweden)
”The concerto is also highly expressive and the strength of its message is not least due to the forcefulness of the performers’ advocacy. Indeed, this piece is in very good hands with these young soloists and members of the orchestra. All those involvedperform with great concentration, intensity and feeling for Schnittke’s musical language.” ”Exciting pieces by a contemporary Russian composer performed with total commitment. (Performance: 10 out of 10)
(Stereo)
”The Swedish musicians dedicate themselves to this demanding programme with commitment and a great deal of technical ability. Schnittke could hardly wish for better advocates for his works.”
(stereoplay)

Reviews on PHONO SUECIA PSCD 53

”The oboist Helen Jahren manages to sound elegant in this punishingly athletic and long-winded oboe part – if she can do this in live performance, she can play anything.”
(Fanfare, USA)
“…phenomenally performed by Helen Jahren. I recommend this CD emphatically.”
(Nya Musik & Ljudteknik, Sweden)
“…written for the supreme oboist Helen Jahren, with air and a shimmer around the soloist’s part, which is both ethereal and fiery.”
(Arbetet, Sweden)
“…the record is called Ariel after its delicious oboe concerto featuring Helen Jahren.”
(Expressen, Sweden)
“Ariel is the title of a piece of exquisitene sonority.”
(Dagens Nyheter, Sweden)
“The record is called Ariel after an oboe concerto written for Helen Jahren (who else?). The oboe leads and constantly soars in front of and above the eagerly accompanying orchestra.”
(Norra Skåne, Sweden)
”When you find names like Helen Jahren, Sören Hermansson and Roland Pöntinen on the record cover, you know that you can safely rely on the musicians’ judgement in the matter of repertoire, musicality and technique. Ariel, the spirit of the air, makes a quick visit in the shape of Helen Jahren’s lively oboe playing.”
(Trelleborgs Allehanda, Sweden)

Reviews on MAP R 8606

”…the wholly exceptional oboe soloist Helen Jahren.”
(Westmanlands Läns Tidning, Sweden)
”Supremely performed by Helen Jahren and Hans-Ola Ericsson, who also give a superb performance of Rolf Martinsson’s contemplative and rhapsodic ‘Lontano’ and provide an example of impressive new technical refinementsin Johannes Johansson’s somewhat experimental piece.”
(Östersunds-Posten, Sweden)
”Helen Jahren is known to be the spear-head of the development of oboe playing.”
(Västgöta-Demokraten, Sweden)
”Singularly beautiful is the sound of Helen Jahren’s oboe.”
(Göteborgs-Posten, Sweden)
“This music has two very skilful interpreters. Helen Jahren is, in spite of her youth, already a very sought-after soloist. She seems to master not least the contemporary playing technique with great assurance.” “Together they create music that expresses both the present and eternity.”
(Nya Wermlands-Tidningen, Sweden)
”A very well-deserved Grammy was given to these two young Swedish musicians.” “…superbly performed by the oboe and organ.”
(Eskilstuna-Kuriren, Sweden)
“When listening you are simply fascinated by Helen Jahren’s control of tone and timbre. This record and these adventurous musicians have given music lovers something to return to.”
(Norrköpings Tidningar, Sweden)
”Spellbinds the listener” ”Helen Jahren handles the oboe – for so many musicians a highly refractory instrument – with exquisite finesse, and moulds beautiful, imaginatively coloured notes. Fantastic playing!”
(Östgöta Correspondenten, Sweden)
”The awards were given to a small, quality-conscious company and to two of our younger and most eminent instrumentalists”
(Nerikes Allehanda, Sweden)
“…with the phenomenal musicians Helen Jahren and Hans-Ola Ericsson”
(Dagens Nyheter, Sweden)
”Since then she has become one of the world’s foremost oboe players. Her Grammy is clearly well-deserved.”
(NST, Sweden)
“The young oboist Helen Jahren has already made herself known as an excellent interpreter of contemporary music. Helen Jahren and Hans-Ola Ericsson collaborate in an exquisite way in these difficult compositions.”
(Musikrevy, Sweden)
“…a world class recording.”
(Kristianstadbladet, Sweden)
“As a listener you can just lay back and say thank you.”
(Helsingborgs Dagblad, Sweden)
”The reason why Swedish composers have started to write so much for oboe is of course due to Helen Jahren, who is an extremely capable and keen interpreter of contemporary and experimental music for the oboe.”
(Arbetet, Sweden)
“It almost goes without saying that the performances on this record are at the very highest level.”
(Sydsvenska Dagbladet, Sweden)
”Among the latest releases there is one which is simply brilliant, featuring the oboist Helen Jahren and Hans-Ola Ericsson. Two supreme musicians, performing extremely attractive and significant music.”
(Hifi & Musik, Sweden)
”The oboist’s playing is beyond all praise, nobody can play the instrument better than this.”
(Barometern, Sweden)

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    Address

    Garvar Lundins gränd 1
    S-11220 Stockholm
    Sweden

    Contact me

    Tel: +46 70 624 80 54
    E-mail: info@helenjahren.com