Scott and Johanna Hongell-Darsee's Midwinter Ballads

Scott and Johanna Hongell-Darsee will present an evening of ballads, stories and songs of winter, light and darkness. Hear of the Gap-toothed Hag of The North stealing the sun, of an Irish hero sailing to Trollebotten, of complaining gnomes and of ghostly medieval choirs...

Scott and Johanna research, edit, translate, adapt and arrange traditional melodies and lyrics from Scandinavia, British Isles, Europe, India, and North America and perform them in their own unique way, using both modern and traditional instruments. They have released two award nominated CDs and are also featured on numerous compilation albums.

Johanna (vocals, woodwinds, jouhikko, research, translation, arrangements) was born in Finland. Apart from music she has a background in theater and dance. She studied theater in Paris, France and Bharata Natyam dance in Chennai, India. She has worked as a performing artist for over 30 years in Scandinavia, Europe, India and USA. 

Scott (stringed instruments, arrangements, composer) was born in USA. Before relocating to New Mexico, he spent 16 years in Europe, where parallel to his artistic work he worked as a therapist at ballet companies such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, London Festival Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet and Hamburg Ballet, and also taught at Danish State School of Modern Dance.

This is the latest in a monthly series of free events in collaboration with the Friends for the Public Library.