Heartstrings and enchantment from the Norwegian woods

A leafy trail winds through the Norwegian woods to a secluded section of grassland, which shimmers in the moonlight. On this patch of paradise, a piano and violin release haunting sounds. This romantic scene will be one of many staged in the Great Hall of the People on Friday by Secret Garden.

Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and Norwegian pianist Rolf Lovland return to China for the sixth time and have specially rearranged a piece of Chinese music called The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The 1995 winners of the Eurovision Song Contest formed in 1994 by Sherry and Lovland, who also was the co-writer of Norway's 1985 Eurovision victor La Det Swingge.

Secret Garden's own Eurovision victory was notable as the first time a predominantly instrumental song won the competition.

The piece was so stylistically removed from the "European pop format" commonly associated with the competition, that the press said Secret Garden had "redefined the contest".

Songs from Secret Garden, the duo's debut album, were released later in 1995 and became a major hit around the world. In 1998 Barbra Streisand requested to use their song Heartstrings for her wedding. Ann Hampton Callaway wrote lyrics to the instrumental piece, and Barbra Streisand performed it as part of her wedding speech to James Brolin. She later released it as her first single from the album A Love Like Ours.

Secret Garden's later albums include White Stones (1997), Fairytales (1998), Dawn of a New Century (1999), Dreamcatcher (2001), Once in a Red Moon (2002), and Earthsongs (2005).

Lovland was born in Kristiansand, in southern Norway and started composing at the freakish age of 9, and soon after formed his first band. He later studied music at the Music Conservatory in Kristiansand - and received his Masters degree in music at the Norwegian Institute of Music in Oslo.

Sherry grew up in a musical family, who ignited her passion for music at an early age. She started to play the violin at the age of 8, and by 15 moved to Dublin to study music.

That same wide interest in music led her to conceive, write and present her own music series for children on Irish national TV. On stage, she enchants audiences with her intensity and soulful performances. Her unique violin virtuosity provides the heartstrings, voice and wings for Lovland's compositions.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/29/2008 page19)