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Alfvén: Complete Symphonies; Suites; Rhapsodies / Willén
Naxos

Alfvén: Complete Symphonies; Suites; Rhapsodies / Willén

$54.99

Details

Composer
Hugo Alfven
Artist
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Iceland Symphony Orchestr
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Nov 18, 2022
Catalog #
8507015
UPC
747313701537

About

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

Tracklist 65 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Festspel (Festival Overture), Op. 25 05:29
    Track
    1
    Title
    Festspel (Festival Overture), Op. 25
    Duration
    05:29
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  3. 2 I. Besvärjelse (Invocation) 03:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. Besvärjelse (Invocation)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  4. 3 II. Trollflickans dans (Dance of the Troll Maiden) 06:11
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Trollflickans dans (Dance of the Troll Maiden)
    Duration
    06:11
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  5. 4 III. Sommarregn (Summer Rain) 02:08
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. Sommarregn (Summer Rain)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  6. 5 IV. Vallflickans dans (Dance of the Shepherd Girl) 04:03
    Track
    5
    Title
    IV. Vallflickans dans (Dance of the Shepherd Girl)
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  7. 6 Uppsala-rapsodi (Uppsala Rhapsody), Op. 24, "Svensk rapsodi No. 2" (Swedish Rhapsody No. 2) 10:58
    Track
    6
    Title
    Uppsala-rapsodi (Uppsala Rhapsody), Op. 24, "Svensk rapsodi No. 2" (Swedish Rhapsody No. 2)
    Duration
    10:58
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  8. 7 I. Grave - Allegro con brio 13:17
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Grave - Allegro con brio
    Duration
    13:17
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  9. 8 II. Andante 08:18
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    08:18
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  10. 9 III. Allegro, molto scherzando 06:53
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Allegro, molto scherzando
    Duration
    06:53
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  11. 10 IV. Allegro, ma non troppo 09:18
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Allegro, ma non troppo
    Duration
    09:18
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  12. Disc 2
  13. 1 I. Gånglåt från Leksand, "Sonens gånglåt" (Marching Tune) 03:43
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Gånglåt från Leksand, "Sonens gånglåt" (Marching Tune)
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  14. 2 II. Polska från Orsa 02:17
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Polska från Orsa
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  15. 3 III. Drottningens av Saba festmarsch (Festive March): Allegro maestoso 02:22
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Drottningens av Saba festmarsch (Festive March): Allegro maestoso
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  16. 4 IV. Polketta: Tempo di polketta 02:56
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Polketta: Tempo di polketta
    Duration
    02:56
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  17. 5 V. Steklåt: Allegretto 02:44
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Steklåt: Allegretto
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  18. 6 VI. Polka 02:14
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Polka
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  19. 7 VII. Finale: Polska 02:49
    Track
    7
    Title
    VII. Finale: Polska
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  20. 8 I. Moderato 12:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Moderato
    Duration
    12:07
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  21. 9 II. Andante 18:32
    Track
    9
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    18:32
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  22. 10 III. Allegro 05:52
    Track
    10
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    05:52
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  23. 11 IV. Preludio: Adagio 07:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    IV. Preludio: Adagio
    Duration
    07:14
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  24. 12 IV. Fuga: Allegro energico 10:07
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Fuga: Allegro energico
    Duration
    10:07
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  25. Disc 3
  26. 1 Dalarapsodi (Dalecarlian Rhapsody), Op. 47, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 3" 24:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    Dalarapsodi (Dalecarlian Rhapsody), Op. 47, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 3"
    Duration
    24:48
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  27. 2 En skärgårdssägen (A Legend of the Skerries), Op. 20 18:11
    Track
    2
    Title
    En skärgårdssägen (A Legend of the Skerries), Op. 20
    Duration
    18:11
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  28. 3 I. Allegro con brio 07:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    07:58
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  29. 4 II. Andante 10:34
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    10:34
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  30. 5 III. Presto 07:31
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Presto
    Duration
    07:31
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  31. 6 IV. Allegro con brio 09:10
    Track
    6
    Title
    IV. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    09:10
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Royal Scottish National Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  32. Disc 4
  33. 1 I. Moderato - Allegretto, ma non troppo 11:04
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Moderato - Allegretto, ma non troppo
    Duration
    11:04
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Performer
    Jóhann Valdimarsson, Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir
    Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  34. 2 II. Allegro - Moderato - Allegro 05:01
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allegro - Moderato - Allegro
    Duration
    05:01
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Performer
    Arndís Halla
    Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  35. 3 III. Lento - Maestoso - Molto appassionato 19:13
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Lento - Maestoso - Molto appassionato
    Duration
    19:13
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Performer
    Arndís Halla, Jóhann Valdimarsson, Sigrún Edvaldsdóttir, Richard Talkowsky
    Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  36. 4 IV. Allegro agitato 12:50
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Allegro agitato
    Duration
    12:50
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Performer
    Kristján Stephensen
    Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  37. 5 Festival Overture, Op. 52 10:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    Festival Overture, Op. 52
    Duration
    10:04
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Iceland Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  38. Disc 5
  39. 1 I. Lento - Allegro non troppo 19:45
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Lento - Allegro non troppo
    Duration
    19:45
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  40. 2 II. Andante 08:29
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    08:29
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  41. 3 III. Lento - Allegro - Presto molto agitato 07:39
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Lento - Allegro - Presto molto agitato
    Duration
    07:39
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  42. 4 IV. Finale: Allegro con brio 18:05
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro con brio
    Duration
    18:05
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  43. 5 Uppenbarelsekantat (Revelation Cantata), Op. 31: Andante religioso 03:49
    Track
    5
    Title
    Uppenbarelsekantat (Revelation Cantata), Op. 31: Andante religioso
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  44. Disc 6
  45. 1 I. Söndagsmorgon i skogen (Sunday Morning in the Forest) 02:51
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Söndagsmorgon i skogen (Sunday Morning in the Forest)
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  46. 2 II. Ung kärlek - Synnöve på sätern (Young Love - Synnove on the Mountain Pasture) 08:42
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Ung kärlek - Synnöve på sätern (Young Love - Synnove on the Mountain Pasture)
    Duration
    08:42
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  47. 3 III. Hjärtesorg - Pastoral (Poignant Grief - Pastorale) 04:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Hjärtesorg - Pastoral (Poignant Grief - Pastorale)
    Duration
    04:58
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  48. 4 IV. Torbjörn och Synnöve (Torbjorn and Synnove) 03:27
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Torbjörn och Synnöve (Torbjorn and Synnove)
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  49. 5 V. Längtan (Yearning) 04:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Längtan (Yearning)
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  50. 6 VI. I Solbakken (At Solbakken) 03:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. I Solbakken (At Solbakken)
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  51. 7 I. Introduktion (Introduction) 02:55
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Introduktion (Introduction)
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  52. 8 II. Drömmar (Dreams) 07:45
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Drömmar (Dreams)
    Duration
    07:45
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  53. 9 III. Brottslig kärlek - Ångest (Guilty Love - Anguish) 09:07
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Brottslig kärlek - Ångest (Guilty Love - Anguish)
    Duration
    09:07
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  54. 10 IV. Svartsjuka - Pastoral (Jealousy - Pastorale) 04:03
    Track
    10
    Title
    IV. Svartsjuka - Pastoral (Jealousy - Pastorale)
    Duration
    04:03
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  55. 11 V. Sorgetåget (Funeral March) 05:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    V. Sorgetåget (Funeral March)
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  56. 12 VI. Vargaskall (Baying of Wolves) 03:39
    Track
    12
    Title
    VI. Vargaskall (Baying of Wolves)
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  57. 13 Elégie: Vid Emil Sjögrens bår (At Emil Sjögrens's Funeral), Op. 38 12:15
    Track
    13
    Title
    Elégie: Vid Emil Sjögrens bår (At Emil Sjögrens's Funeral), Op. 38
    Duration
    12:15
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Norrköpings Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Niklas Willén
  58. Disc 7
  59. 1 Svenskt festspel (Swedish Festival Music) 06:34
    Track
    1
    Title
    Svenskt festspel (Swedish Festival Music)
    Duration
    06:34
    Composer
    August Söderman
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  60. 2 Sången (The Song), Op. 44: Interlude 05:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    Sången (The Song), Op. 44: Interlude
    Duration
    05:49
    Composer
    Wilhelm Stenhammar
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  61. 3 I. Overture 04:33
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Overture
    Duration
    04:33
    Composer
    Lars-Erik Larsson
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  62. 4 II. Romance 04:28
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. Romance
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Lars-Erik Larsson
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  63. 5 III. Scherzo 03:29
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Scherzo
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Lars-Erik Larsson
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  64. 6 En vintersaga (The Winter's Tale), Op. 18: IV. Epilogue 03:36
    Track
    6
    Title
    En vintersaga (The Winter's Tale), Op. 18: IV. Epilogue
    Duration
    03:36
    Composer
    Lars-Erik Larsson
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  65. 7 Frösöblomster (Frösö-Flowers), Book 3: No. 2. Intåg i Sommarhagen (Enter into Summer Pastures) (arr. for orchestra) 04:42
    Track
    7
    Title
    Frösöblomster (Frösö-Flowers), Book 3: No. 2. Intåg i Sommarhagen (Enter into Summer Pastures) (arr. for orchestra)
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  66. 8 No. 2. Sommarsång (Summer Song) 02:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 2. Sommarsång (Summer Song)
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  67. 9 No. 5. Gratulation (Congratulations) 03:37
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 5. Gratulation (Congratulations)
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  68. 10 No. 6. Vid Frösö kyrka (At Froso Church) 03:24
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 6. Vid Frösö kyrka (At Froso Church)
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  69. 11 Den förlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: VI. Polka 02:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    Den förlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: VI. Polka
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  70. 12 Serenade, Op. 11: IV. Marcia 04:38
    Track
    12
    Title
    Serenade, Op. 11: IV. Marcia
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Dag Wiren
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  71. 13 Gustav II Adolf, Op. 49: V. Elegy 05:20
    Track
    13
    Title
    Gustav II Adolf, Op. 49: V. Elegy
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu
  72. 14 Midsommarvaka (Midsummer Vigil), Op. 19, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 1" 13:27
    Track
    14
    Title
    Midsommarvaka (Midsummer Vigil), Op. 19, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 1"
    Duration
    13:27
    Composer
    Hugo Alfvén
    Ensemble
    Helsingborgs Symfoniorkester
    Conductor
    Okko Kamu