Chandos
Delius in Norway / Davis, Bergen Philharmonic
$21.99
Details
- Composer
- DELIUS, FREDERICK
- Artist
- Moen, Davis
- Format
- SACD
- Label
- Chandos
- Released
- Jan 28, 2014
- Catalog #
- CHSA 5131
- UPC
- 095115513125
About
This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Norway is a gorgeous country, and it’s no surprise that Delius found much of his inspiration there. The pieces on this intelligently planned program run from 1889-1917, and are programmed in roughly chronological order. They range from the charming orchestration of good friend Edvard Grieg’s Norwegian Bridal Procession to Delius’ first major works for orchestra (Paa Vidderne) and for the theatre (the incidental music to Folkeraadet), taking in a couple of orchestral songs along the way.
Paa Vidderne (On the Mountains) is a tone poem obviously of the Wagner/Liszt school, with plenty of hefty brass scoring and way too many cymbal crashes. It does not sound particularly Delian, but curiously the earlier Sleigh Ride’s calm central section clearly foreshadows the composer to come. Few listeners are probably aware that On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring is based on a Norwegian theme, but there it is, while Eventyr, which concludes the program, is a masterpiece of mood and turbulent atmosphere, sort of Delius’ answer to Sibelius’ En Saga.
This is one of those programs in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The selections are nicely varied. Ann-Helen Moen sings the two songs quite beautifully, and Andrew Davis, who recorded some very nice Delius for Teldec back in the day, knows his way around the music. It’s also good to hear non-British orchestras taking on this repertoire. Certainly the Bergen Philharmonic sounds just fine, although curiously, in Eventyr, the second of the two shouts (literally: the plays have to shout) is quite untidy. Not important, though, especially with fine sonics and a very generous nearly eighty minutes of playing time. A very enjoyable and interesting disc.
- ClassicsToday
Norway is a gorgeous country, and it’s no surprise that Delius found much of his inspiration there. The pieces on this intelligently planned program run from 1889-1917, and are programmed in roughly chronological order. They range from the charming orchestration of good friend Edvard Grieg’s Norwegian Bridal Procession to Delius’ first major works for orchestra (Paa Vidderne) and for the theatre (the incidental music to Folkeraadet), taking in a couple of orchestral songs along the way.
Paa Vidderne (On the Mountains) is a tone poem obviously of the Wagner/Liszt school, with plenty of hefty brass scoring and way too many cymbal crashes. It does not sound particularly Delian, but curiously the earlier Sleigh Ride’s calm central section clearly foreshadows the composer to come. Few listeners are probably aware that On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring is based on a Norwegian theme, but there it is, while Eventyr, which concludes the program, is a masterpiece of mood and turbulent atmosphere, sort of Delius’ answer to Sibelius’ En Saga.
This is one of those programs in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The selections are nicely varied. Ann-Helen Moen sings the two songs quite beautifully, and Andrew Davis, who recorded some very nice Delius for Teldec back in the day, knows his way around the music. It’s also good to hear non-British orchestras taking on this repertoire. Certainly the Bergen Philharmonic sounds just fine, although curiously, in Eventyr, the second of the two shouts (literally: the plays have to shout) is quite untidy. Not important, though, especially with fine sonics and a very generous nearly eighty minutes of playing time. A very enjoyable and interesting disc.
- ClassicsToday
Tracklist 13 tracks
-
1 Folkelivsbilleder, Op. 19: No. 2. Brudefolget drager forbi (Bridal Procession) (arr. F. Delius for orchestra) 03:43
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Folkelivsbilleder, Op. 19: No. 2. Brudefolget drager forbi (Bridal Procession) (arr. F. Delius for orchestra)
- Duration
- 03:43
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
2 Paa Vidderne (On the Heights) 14:08
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Paa Vidderne (On the Heights)
- Duration
- 14:08
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
3 No. 3. Evening Voices (Twilight Fancies) 03:52
- Track
- 3
- Title
- No. 3. Evening Voices (Twilight Fancies)
- Duration
- 03:52
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Performer
- Ann-Helen Moen
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
4 No. 7. The Bird's Story 03:27
- Track
- 4
- Title
- No. 7. The Bird's Story
- Duration
- 03:27
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Performer
- Ann-Helen Moen
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
5 3 Small Tone Poems: No. 2. Winter Night (Sleigh Ride) 05:36
- Track
- 5
- Title
- 3 Small Tone Poems: No. 2. Winter Night (Sleigh Ride)
- Duration
- 05:36
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
6 I. Prelude to Act I: Con moto - Molto tranquillo - Tempo I 03:13
- Track
- 6
- Title
- I. Prelude to Act I: Con moto - Molto tranquillo - Tempo I
- Duration
- 03:13
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
7 II. Interlude between Acts I-II: Con spirito - Allargando - più tranquillo - Tempo I - Maestoso, più lento - Allargando al fine 05:31
- Track
- 7
- Title
- II. Interlude between Acts I-II: Con spirito - Allargando - più tranquillo - Tempo I - Maestoso, più lento - Allargando al fine
- Duration
- 05:31
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
8 II. Melodrama in Act II: Molto tranquillo 00:57
- Track
- 8
- Title
- II. Melodrama in Act II: Molto tranquillo
- Duration
- 00:57
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
9 III. Interlude between Acts II-III: Allegro energico – Maestoso, più lento – Andante espressivo, molto tranquillo - Con moto - Vivo - Presto - Lento molto tranquillo - Maestoso 07:24
- Track
- 9
- Title
- III. Interlude between Acts II-III: Allegro energico – Maestoso, più lento – Andante espressivo, molto tranquillo - Con moto - Vivo - Presto - Lento molto tranquillo - Maestoso
- Duration
- 07:24
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
10 III. Melodrama in Act V: — 00:57
- Track
- 10
- Title
- III. Melodrama in Act V: —
- Duration
- 00:57
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
11 IV. Interlude between Acts IV-V: Marcia, lento solenne - Solenne - Lento - Allegro, ma non troppo - Moderato - Allegro moderato con humore 07:11
- Track
- 11
- Title
- IV. Interlude between Acts IV-V: Marcia, lento solenne - Solenne - Lento - Allegro, ma non troppo - Moderato - Allegro moderato con humore
- Duration
- 07:11
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
12 2 Pieces for Small Orchestra: No. 1. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring 06:13
- Track
- 12
- Title
- 2 Pieces for Small Orchestra: No. 1. On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring
- Duration
- 06:13
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis
-
13 Eventyr, "Once Upon a Time" 15:10
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Eventyr, "Once Upon a Time"
- Duration
- 15:10
- Composer
- Frederick Delius
- Ensemble
- Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
- Conductor
- Andrew Davis