In his Ave Maria Nystedt has followed tradition by setting the original words of the prayer to Mary. He has adopted the unusual form of a violin concerto, with the choir replacing the orchestra as the violin’s partner. In a sort of neo-romantic tonal language the choir joins in a dialogue with what is perhaps the most songlike of all instruments, the violin, which in accordance with the classical-romantic tradition even has a solo cadenza. Repeatedly, in addition to this dialogue, a wonderful bl