4. Jungfrun och ljugarpust

Pettersson: 8 Barfotasånger (Barefoot Songs), orchestrated by Antal Doráti. The 24 Barefoot Songs for voice and piano (1943-45) are Pettersson's settings of his own poems, and as such form a singularly profound portrait of the composer. Their importance can be measured by the fact that Pettersson throughout his life returned to themes from the collection, reusing them in his large-scale works. It was Doráti who suggested the orchestration of eight of the songs, a task with which he was entrusted by the composer. Music which brings to mind a plea made much later by the composer: 'When will the angel come and give back the song to your heart, so simple and so clear that a child will stop crying?'.
Klassik Heute 10/10/10, highest rating.