Alfvén: Complete Symphonies; Suites; Rhapsodies / Willén

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Hugo Alfvén’s music has always been close to the hearts of the Swedish people, and ranks among some of the most significant and representative of the spirit of the country. Alfvén is known as a cheerful entertainer in compositions such as Den forlorade sonen (‘The Prodigal Son’), but his symphonies reveal a different, more elegiac and often more dramatic side. The success of Alfvén’s symphonies fundamentally changed Sweden’s musical climate and, with a substantial collection of further orchestral music representing his gloriously rich and varied style, these recordings sweep us into the remarkable world of Scandinavian landscape and culture.

Past praise for previously released volumes included in this set:

Symphony No. 5; Andante Religioso / Willén, Norrköping Symphony

The Norrköping Symphony plays with confidence and fervor. Alfvén was nothing if not expansive, and if his formal touch was never all that deft, he did know how to fill up time with arresting ideas, glowingly scored. A serenely lovely Andante religioso makes a perfect encore, one that puts the finale of the symphony’s straining for heroic effect in its proper perspective in the gentlest and most affecting way. Naxos’ sonics for this production are also excellent. Very enjoyable indeed.

-- ClassicsToday.com (David Hurwitz)

The Prodigal Son, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 11 / Willén, Ireland NSO

Listen as Niklas Willén teases the skittish polka from “The Prodigal Son” ballet suite, or steers his players through the vehement fugue that rounds out his Symphony No. 2, and you’ll appreciate why this release commands unreserved praise. These works come to life in Willén’s hands.

Willén’s reading of the Symphony's Andante conjures a huge range of textures and sonorities, with the dark-hued horns and sombre lower winds particularly impressive. The players give all they have in music that’s probably new to them, and that extra effort is just one of the factors that makes these performances so compelling.

-- ClassicsToday.com (10/10; David Hurwitz)

Symphony No. 3; Skerries; Dalecarlien Rhapsody / Willén, RNSO

If you haven’t heard these charming, folk-music-inspired gems of late Romantic music, then here’s an excellent place to start. The Symphony also sounds consistently fresh and lively, though it’s hard to shake the impression that the composer was happier writing programmatic works in free form than in indulging the more intellectual rigors of symphonic development. In Willén’s sympathetic hands, however, none of its four movements outstays its welcome. In any event, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra plays with confidence and evident enjoyment, and the recorded sound is very good.

-- ClassicsToday.com



Product Description:

  • Release Date: November 18, 2022


  • Catalog Number: 8507015


  • UPC: 747313701537


  • Label: Naxos


  • Number of Discs: 7


  • Period: 20th Century


  • Composer: Hugo Alfven


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra


  • Performer: Niklas Willen



Works:

  1. Festspel, Op. 25 (‘Festival Overture’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  2. Suite from Bergakungen (‘The Mountain King’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  3. Uppsala-rapsodi, Op. 24 ('Swedish Rhapsody No. 2')

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  4. Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 7

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  5. Den förlorade sonen (Suite from the ballet ‘The Prodigal Son’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  6. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 11

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  7. Dala-rhapsodien, Op. 47 (‘Swedish Rhapsody No. 3’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  8. En skärgårdssägen, Op. 20 (‘A Legend of the Skerries’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  9. Symphony No. 3 in E major, Op. 23

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  10. Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 39 ‘Från Havsbandet’ (‘From the Outermost Skerries’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Iceland Symphony Orchestra

    Performer: Arndís Halla (Soprano vocalise), Jóhann Valdimarsson (Tenor vocalise), Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir (Violin), Richard Talkowsky (Cello), Kristján Th. Stephensen (Englisdh Horn)

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  11. Festival Overture, Op. 52

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Iceland Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  12. Symphony No. 5 in A minor, Op. 54

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  13. Uppenbarelsekantat, Op. 31 (‘Revelation Cantata’): Andante religioso

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  14. Synnöve Solbakken Suite, Op. 50

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  15. En bygdesaga (‘A Country Tale’) Suite, Op. 53

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  16. Élégie, Op. 38 (‘Elegy, at Emil Sjögren’s Funeral’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Niklas Willén


  17. Svenskt festspel (‘Swedish Festival Music’)

    Composer: August Söderman

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  18. Mellanspel ur kantaten Sången, Op. 44 (‘Interlude from the cantata The Song’)

    Composer: Wilhelm Stenhammer

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  19. Pastoralsvit, Op. 19 (‘Pastoral Suite’)

    Composer: Lars-Erik Larsson

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  20. Epilog ur En Vintersaga, Op. 18 (‘Epilogue from The Winter’s Tale’)

    Composer: Lars-Erik Larsson

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  21. Frösöblomster, Book 3 ‘I Sommarhagen’: No. 2 (‘Frösö Flowers, Book 3 ‘I Sommarhagen’: No. 2. Entry into Sommarhagen’)

    Composer: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  22. Frösöblomster, Book 1, Op. 16 (‘Frösö Flowers’)

    Composer: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  23. Den förlorade sonen (‘The Prodigal Son’): VI. Polka från Roslagen ‘Roslagsvår’ (‘Polka from Roslagen – Swedish Polka’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  24. Marcia from Serenad för stråkorkester (‘Serenade for Strings’)

    Composer: Dag Wirén

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  25. Elegi

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu


  26. Midsommarvaka, Op. 19 (‘Midsummer Vigil, Op. 19 – Swedish Rhapsody No. 1’)

    Composer: Hugo Alfvén

    Ensemble: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra

    Conductor: Otto Kamu