The Fire Sermon - Norse Saga is my debut album and grew out of my fascination with Nordic musicand the idea of bringing together music that lies close to my heart. It is a collection of Norwegian andFinnish works, some of which I have felt a particular connection to since childhood, while others I havediscovered along the way.The starting point of the project is Einojuhani Rautavaara's Piano Sonata No. 2, The Fire Sermon. From myfirst encounter with the piece, I have been captivated by it's dramatic intensity and mysterious, searchingatmosphere. I experience this music as a journey of transformation.The title Norse Saga reflects the stories, mythology, landscapes, and spirit of the Nordic world that runsthrough the album. Some works draw directly on Nordic mythology, while others evoke the landscapesand cultural heritage of Norway and Finland.A particularly important part of the project is a newly commissioned work by Marcus Paus, writtenspecifically for me as a pianist and inspired by Norwegian paintings. I find his musical languageparticularly fascinating in the way it draws on tradition while exploring unexpected harmonies andcolours, creating something both musically original and intimately beautiful.Through this album, I want to share the beauty of this music. / Ellisiv Tandberg