Hafliði Hallgrímsson is one of the leading figures in Icelandic musical life, and his work Mini Stories sets the surreal poetry of the soviet-era writer Daniil Kharms to music. Whilst internationally renowned actor Simon Callow brings Kharms’s texts to life, the Icelandic Caput Ensemble reflect the mood with stellar performances of Hallgrímsson’s evocative accompanying composition.
"Callow waxes opulently lyrical in narrating Daniil Kharms’ absurdist tales and Halgrimsson’s music is, by contrast, stark and dark except for the cathartic Victory Boogie-Woogie. It’s the ideal combination to give a vivid sound picture of these acrid aphoristic tales. Engaging stuff if you can stand the unrelentingly bleak nihilism of the words." *** Phillip Sommerich
“This CD is an unique gem, gripping from beginning to end, superbly recorded and annotated by the composer, complete with a biography of Kharms and full texts… Enthusiastically Recommended”
Peter Grahame Woolf
