Andrea Bræin Hovig - Hjertetvinner

Songs from the stage and the cinema

A fabulous singing talent in an exciting music setting, performing new Norwegian translations of popular musical hits – that’s Andrea’s debut record, ”Hjertet vinner” (Winning Heart), described in a nutshell.

Andrea Bræin Hovig has already made a name for herself in the Norwegian theatre. Only 29 years old, she has already been hired by the Norwegian National theatre in Oslo after a number of stunning performances on the stage, including the lead in the musical “Chicago” last year.

Many of her stage roles have called upon her singing talents, so it was a natural choice to take songs from the stage and the silver screen. But Andrea wanted to put her own special mark on these songs. She picked eleven writers who were asked to give their personal renditions of lyrics from musicals, cabarets and movie songs.

All the eleven hits included on the record will be familiar to most of us and will call up dramatic and visual memories. From a Handel aria to ”Over the rainbow” and ”Hopelessly devoted to you”, these songs, rendered in the Norwegian language by Anne Holt, Edvard
Hoem, Karoline Krüger, Erik Hillestad, Kari Iveland, Lars Saabye Christensen and others, have a deep appeal.

Andreas Utnem has arranged all the songs with playful innovation. The music is performed by the Oslo String Quartet and Andreas Utnem on grand piano. But let there be no doubt, the incredibly expressive and beautiful voice of Andrea is the centrepiece.

Alf Christian Hvidsteen is the recording technician and Erik Hillestad the producer.