Øystein Sevåg - Lacrimosa

PRE-ORDER (RELEASE DATE 05.09.2025)

The title Lacrimosa, meaning “tear,” reflects the spirit of the project. Øystein Sevåg has always believed in the healing and inspiring power of music. With his new album Lacrimosa, he aims to offer relief, and a renewed belief in the future - during a time of conflict where civilization is truly struggling to come together.
Lacrimosa also marks Øystein Sevåg’s first band album in 15 years. Øystein continues his musical alchemy project: fusing European art music with performer-driven improvisation to create a powerful, uplifting force. In short, Lacrimosa is rooted in Western polyphonic art music, branching into rhythmic improvisation with a touch of Nordic character. The result is melodic and polyphonic, sacred yet powerful.
An all-star Norwegian-British-German ensemble unites on the album, bringing together leading voices from the jazz and classical worlds, musicians equally at home in art music and in improvisation.
British-Swedish bassoonist Emily Hultmark (former principal with both London’s Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic) takes a central role. She is joined by Sevåg’s long-time collaborators from Global House (1995), including Bendik Hofseth (saxophone) and Rune Arnesen (drums), alongside outstanding names from Norway and beyond such as Sara Övinge (violin), Mats Eilertsen (bass), and the North Macedonia Symphony Orchestra.
Since 1990, Sevåg’s music has been released on a series of critically acclaimed, award-winning albums, distributed worldwide via Sony Music, Hearts of Space and Siddhartha Records. With a background as a pianist and composer across multiple genres, he has in recent years focused on chamber, orchestral, and choral works.
The full ensemble features Emily Hultmark (bassoon), Sara Övinge (violin), Hanne Moe Skjelbred (viola), Gregor Riddell and Elisa Herbig (cello), Øystein Sevåg (piano), Bendik Hofseth (saxophone), Mats Eilertsen (bass), Rune Arnesen (drums), and Fame’s Symphony Orchestra (40 strings).
The cover image, given by NASA, depicts our beautiful planet suspended in space, like a pearl, a drop, or a tear.