On January 23 2026, Dacapo Records will release an album featuring first recordings of spiritual works by Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996) for choir and ensembles.
The new release 'Works for Choir and Ensembles' is performed by Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir and the Danish-Faeroese wind ensemble V Coloris, conducted by Mogens Dahl.
Die Erfüllung (The Fufilment) for choir and wind instrument opens the album. The piece was commissioned by the Danish Rudolf Steiner movement and was premiered at a Rudolf Steiner convention in 1990. The text is set by the German mystic poet Novalis and the opening line 'Es bricht die neue Welt herein' (The new world breaks upon us) accompanied by a festive fanfare in the ensemble speaks of a new world of piece, love, and harmony. In the fifth movement we hear the line 'Der Liebe Reicht ist aufgetan' (The realm of love lies open).
The album also features the a capella piece Song at Sunset (1978) for choir with text by Walt Whitman (1819-1892). The piece praises the sunset and the everchanging nature. The album ends with the piece Ode til Sjælen (Ode to the Soul) from 1895 for choir, organ, and brass instruments. The text is set by the Danish poet Johannes Ewald (1743-1781), best known as the author of the Danish national anthem "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast".
What the three works share is a spiritual side of Holmboe, that he did not reveal publicly in his own time. This makes this album a rare glimpse into a deeply personal side of Holmboe that is not commonly known.
The album is a part of a wider series of live concert releases on Dacapo Records.
Details:
Out January 23 2026: Works for Choir and Ensembles
Mogens Dahl Chamber Choir
V Coloris
Mogens Dahl, conductor
