The way in which Ståle Kleiberg presents his orchestral works in Across the Ocean towards a Higher Firmament is thoughtful and intentional. Each of the pieces looks at its theme from a different perspective, which provides the album with a great deal of variety while at the same time maintaining a clear sense of direction. The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Peter Szilvay, carries out the performances on a scale appropriate to such a major orchestral undertaking, allowing Kleiberg’s compositions to fully develop.
The album moves the listener from the personal to the more general. Lamento – Cissi Klein in memoriam is a tribute to Cissi Klein, a young Jewish girl from Trondheim who was murdered during the Second World War. The Town and its People, on the other hand, focuses on a town and its inhabitants. When the two pieces are placed side by side, they present very different subjects and viewpoints, which prevents the album from appearing to revolve around one single idea.
This three-movement title symphony adds another character to the set, the sections being indicated by Espressivo e rubato. Andante, Tranquillo. Drammatico. Misterioso, and Maestoso. Quasi corale, showing obvious shifts in mood and direction as the work moves on; the final section, with its quasi-choral character, leads the symphony up to its end. The piece was commissioned by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and its premiere took place in April 2025 under Szilvay.
The three pieces together display various aspects of Kleiberg’s approach to orchestral writing and are linked by their serious thematic content. The album is not based on a single piece; rather, each work has its own position in the programme. Those who are interested in contemporary classical and orchestral music will find Across the Ocean towards a Higher Firmament to be a valuable collection of works by a Norwegian composer who has a long-standing artistic relationship with an orchestra.
