AKERVINDA is the Swedish women’s quartet bringing us wonderful authentic and adapted Nordic folk songs. The group is named for the Swedish flower, Åkervinda, and most of the songs evoked the importance of nature in their culture.
Åkervinda was one of Utzon Room Sunday afternoon concerts curated by Genevieve Lacey. Genevieve’s graceful, relaxed and informative introductions are always appreciated by the audience. Also, the members of the quartet gave short introductions to the songs with a sense of fun.
The lyrical pleading for Gullesol (The sun) to return to end the dark winter days was achingly beautiful. Geting was a perky and fun piece about brushing away the pesky Swedish wasp. Jag står upp en morgon (I got up one morning) was a lyrical song of love, womanhood and motherhood. There were also many traditional folksongs adapted to a jazzy feel. These modern interpretations added spice while keeping the Nordic style.
The quartet frequently used hocketing, a musical technique where two or more voices alternate in singing the same theme, creating a staggered effect where one voice sounds while the other rests. The effect was mesmerising.
The singers frequently used their microphones as an accompanying instrument. Soft whispers into the mics served as an overture to full-throated songs, and as background beats. There were only a few moments without mics and we could hear their full, powerful voices. This raised the question of why we couldn’t hear more of the natural, unassisted voices of these wonderful singers – Iris Bergcrantz, Agnes Åhlund, Linda Bergström, and Lise Kroner. I was disappointed not to hear the real voices fill the Utzon Room. The 200-seat space has good acoustics, and the quartet members have powerful voices. Let’s hear that!
The concert, AKERVINDA, took place at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House on Sunday March 1, 2026.
Production photography by Jay Patel
