I Can See the Gates of Heaven...

Marta Sebestyen is one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful artists in world music. Best known for her Oscar-winning contribution to the soundtrack of 'The English Patient', Marta has also won a Grammy for her album with Deep Forest and recorded several albums with Muszikas (winners of the Womex Special Award in 2008) for the Hannibal label. She also appeared on Peter Gabriel s 'Big Blue Ball' album.

'I Can See the Gates of Heaven...' represents a major new shift in Marta's career. It is her first album recorded for her own label, released so far only in Hungary and now licenced for the world by World Village. She sings songs personally chosen from the extensive Hungarian folk and religious repertoire, songs that have close personal resonance for her and that reflect the proud cultural heritage of the Carpathians. The musicians are two of Hungary's finest - Balazs Dongo Sokolay on bagpipes, flutes, saxophone and tarogato and Matyas Bolya on lute and zither. In the informative sleeve notes Marta introduces the album and the background to each song, and leading Hungarian folklorist Ferenc Szabo provides further detail.