🎻 Secret Garden: The Story of a Duo That Transformed Music
🔹 An Unconventional Beginning: Victory at Eurovision In 1995, the duo Secret Garden, consisting of violinist Fionnuala Sherry and composer Rolf Løvland, achieved the extraordinary—they won Eurovision with the instrumental piece "Nocturne." This marked the first time in the competition's history that an instrumental performance took the top prize, leading the press to declare, "Secret Garden redefined Eurovision."
🔹 From Classical Roots to Global Acclaim Over nearly 30 years, the duo has released 11 albums, selling 5 million copies and amassing 3 billion streams. Their music spent 311 weeks on the Billboard New Age charts, and they have earned a total of 113 platinum albums.
🔹 Signature Hits: From "You Raise Me Up" to "Song from a Secret Garden"
"You Raise Me Up" (2001) became one of the most-covered songs of the century. Artists like Josh Groban, Westlife, and Il Divo, along with over 1,000 others, have performed it.
"Song from a Secret Garden" is the duo's hallmark. The track was featured on their debut album, "Songs from a Secret Garden" (1996).
The album included 14 neoclassical and new-age instrumental compositions. It went platinum in Norway and South Korea, with over 1 million copies sold worldwide. Key tracks include "Song from a Secret Garden" and "Nocturne."
🔹 Fionnuala Sherry: A Violin with an Irish Soul
Born in Ireland, she began playing the violin at the age of 8.
She graduated from Trinity College Dublin and performed with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for a decade.
She has collaborated with The Chieftains, U2, and Van Morrison, and contributed to Hollywood soundtracks ("The Mask," "A Room With a View").
She plays a 1790 John Edward Betts violin with a Hill bow.
🔹 Rolf Løvland: A Norwegian Genius
Born in 1955, he started composing music at the age of 9.
He won Eurovision twice: in 1985 ("La det swinge") and 1995 ("Nocturne").
He triumphed in Norway's national Eurovision selection four times.
He received the "Lifetime Achievement" award at the Norwegian Grammies (2007).
🔹 The Duo's Philosophy "We avoid genre labels. Our music tells stories, often without words, sometimes with them. Anything beyond this intuitive process doesn’t concern us," say Fionnuala and Rolf.
🎻 Conclusion Secret Garden is more than a duo—it’s a musical phenomenon. Their compositions stand the test of time, with every note carrying depth and emotion. From Eurovision to global stages, they continue to inspire millions of listeners.
