This is a new series on the Swedish Caprice label in which well-known pianists from many different musical genres play improvisations on repertoire they were given immediately before the recording, which takes place (to increase creative ambience) late at night on a top quality Steinway grand in the same studio. The repertoire is chosen by Caprice on the basis of interviews with the artist, and therefore although a surprise, is ‘close to their heart’ in various ways.

The first ‘volunteer’ is the acclaimed Swedish classical pianist Niklas Sivelov, who

improvises on pieces by the Swedish composer Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795) - a composer, poet & musician of great significance in the history of Swedish song.

There are elements of jazz & contemporary classical in Sivelov’s approach.

Sivelov is also a composer in his own right and a professor at the Royal Danish

Conservatory in Copenhagen. He has recorded for Bis, Naxos, Simax, Caprice, & Phono Suecia; has performed with many leading conductors and soloists, and has garnered a long list of national & international awards.