Naxos
Berwald: Tone Poems / Sakari, Håkansson, Gävle So
$19.99
Only 2 left
Details
- Composer
- BERWALD
- Artist
- Gaevle So/Sakari
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Naxos
- Released
- Jul 19, 2005
- Catalog #
- 8555370
- UPC
- 747313537020
About
Franz Berwald's four symphonies are becoming better known, but the shorter orchestral works hardly receive a mention, even though they are no less deserving. Though conservative in style (what can you expect from a composer born in 1796?), they belong to no particular "school" but have a distinctly Nordic quality thanks to Berwald's fresh feeling for harmony and attractive woodwind writing. This comes through quite clearly in Reminiscence of the Norwegian Mountains, a lovely pastoral portrait in tones, and in Elfenspiel. Wetlauf (Foot-Race), subtitled "Etude for String Orchestra", must rank among the more imaginative early works in the medium--but then all of this music is well worth hearing.
These performances under Petri Sakari, with the Gävle Symphony in very good form, are a touch slower in tempo (with the exception of Wetlauf, aptly enough) than the main competition, the spottily available versions under Ulf Björlin on EMI, but not significantly so, and they are much better recorded. More importantly, Sakari and the orchestra offer freshly sprung rhythms, so important in this music, and the woodwinds play with the necessary liveliness and character in the pieces for full orchestra. Patrik Hakansson also gives a worthy account as soloist in the charming Konzertstück for Bassoon and Orchestra. In short, if you already know and like the symphonies, this inexpensive disc offers an excellent way to fill out your Berwald collection. It's good stuff, plain and simple.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
These performances under Petri Sakari, with the Gävle Symphony in very good form, are a touch slower in tempo (with the exception of Wetlauf, aptly enough) than the main competition, the spottily available versions under Ulf Björlin on EMI, but not significantly so, and they are much better recorded. More importantly, Sakari and the orchestra offer freshly sprung rhythms, so important in this music, and the woodwinds play with the necessary liveliness and character in the pieces for full orchestra. Patrik Hakansson also gives a worthy account as soloist in the charming Konzertstück for Bassoon and Orchestra. In short, if you already know and like the symphonies, this inexpensive disc offers an excellent way to fill out your Berwald collection. It's good stuff, plain and simple.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 6 tracks
-
1 Reminiscence of the Norwegian Mountains 09:24
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Reminiscence of the Norwegian Mountains
- Duration
- 09:24
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari
-
2 Konzertstuck for Bassoon and Orchestra 11:50
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Konzertstuck for Bassoon and Orchestra
- Duration
- 11:50
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Performer
- Patrik Hakansson
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari
-
3 Wettlauf (Foot-Race) 08:45
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Wettlauf (Foot-Race)
- Duration
- 08:45
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari
-
4 Ernste und heitere Grillen (Serious and Joyful Fancies) 08:44
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Ernste und heitere Grillen (Serious and Joyful Fancies)
- Duration
- 08:44
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari
-
5 Drottningen av Golconda (The Queen of Golconda): Overture 07:55
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Drottningen av Golconda (The Queen of Golconda): Overture
- Duration
- 07:55
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari
-
6 Elfenspiel (Play of the Elves) 08:46
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Elfenspiel (Play of the Elves)
- Duration
- 08:46
- Composer
- Franz Berwald
- Ensemble
- Gävle Symfoniorkester
- Conductor
- Petri Sakari