Edvard Grieg & Henrik Ibsen: Peer Gynt

$11.99
Label
Aeon
Release Date
April 1, 2009
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      GRIEG, EDVARD
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Orchestre De La Suisse Romande
    • PERFORMER
      ORCHESTRE DE LA SUISSE ROMANDE
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      April 01, 2009
    • UPC
      3760058366424
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      AECD0642
    • LABEL
      Aeon
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride: At the Wedding (Prelude to Act I)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    2. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride: Peer Gynt, You're a Liar! (Peer Gynt, Ase, Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne, Derek Jacobi

    3. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride, Halling: Down there is Haegstad (Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    4. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride: The Bride? Well, of Course She's Crying a Bit …

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    5. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride, Springar: Are You the Boy Who Wanted to Dance?

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne, Derek Jacobi

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    6. Act I: The Adbuction of the Bride: Well, Boys, the Blacksmith Has Arrived!

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Haydn Gwynne, Derek Jacobi

    7. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Ingrid's Lament (Prelude to Act II)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    8. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Go Away Ingrid, Leave Me Alone! (Peer Gynt, Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    9. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Peer Gynt and the Cattle-Girls

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Inger Dam-Jensen, Sophie Koch

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    10. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Montain Heights! (Peer Gynt, Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    11. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Peer Gynt and the Girl in Green

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    12. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Is It True? (Peer Gynt, Anitra, Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne, Derek Jacobi

    13. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: You Recognise a Great Man By His Mount! (Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    14. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: In the Hall of the Mountain King (Chorus)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Le Motet de Geneve, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    15. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Troll People, We Must Keep Calm! (King of the Trolls, Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi, Alex Jennings

    16. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Danse of the Mountain King's Daughter

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    17. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: What Do You Make of It? (Peer Gynt, King of the Trolls)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    18. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Peer Gynt Pursued By the Trolls (Peer Gynt, Chorus)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Le Motet de Geneve, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    19. Act II: Peer Gynt and the Trolls: Peer Gynt and the Obstacle (Peer Gynt, Obstacle)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    20. Act III: The Death of Ase: In a Dense Pine-Forest, Far Away From Men … (Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    21. Act III: The Death of Ase: The Death of Ase (Prelude to Act lll)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    22. Act III: The Death of Ase: One Day, While Peer Is Cutting Wood … (Narrator, Peer Gynt, Ase)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne, Derek Jacobi

    23. Act III: The Death of Ase: Giddy Up! Make Haste, My Black Horse! (Peer Gynt, Ase)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne

    24. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Morning Mood (Prelude to Act IV)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    25. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Peer Gynt Has Travelled the World (Narrator, Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi, Alex Jennings

    26. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: The Thief and the Receiver

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Dietrich Henschel

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    27. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: The Desert Is Vaste and Limitless! (Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings

    28. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Arabian Danse (Chorus)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Le Motet de Geneve, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    29. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: My Prophet and My Master!

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi, Haydn Gwynne

    30. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Anitra's Dance

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    31. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Anitra, True Daughter of Eve! (Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings

    32. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Peer Gynt's Serenade

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Dietrich Henschel

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    33. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Peer Gynt Has Carried Away the Farouche and Lovely Anitra! (Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    34. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Leave Me Alone or I'll Bite You! (Peer, Anitra)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Haydn Gwynne

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    35. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: On the Same Summer's Day, Far Away In the North … (Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    36. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Solveig's Song (Solvieg)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Inger Dam-Jensen

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    37. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Peer Gynt Has Taken to Wandering Again (Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    38. Act IV: Peer Gynt in Africa: Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    39. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: So Many Years Have Past, so Much Has Happened … (Narrator)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    40. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Stormy Evening On the See (Prelude to Act V)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    41. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Good Evening (Passenger, Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    42. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Shipwreck

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    43. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Peer Gynt … Survives (Narrator, Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi, Alex Jennings

    44. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: If I Die One Day …

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Derek Jacobi

    45. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Solveig Sings In Her Hut

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Sophie Koch

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    46. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming, Night Scene: Ashes, Mist and Windswept Dust …

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    47. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Good Evening Old Man

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi

    48. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Whitsun Hymn (The Faithful)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Le Motet de Geneve, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    49. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming, Whitsun Hymn: I Have Encountered the Faithfull … (Peer Gynt)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Alex Jennings

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire

    50. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: So, Peer Gynt, Where Is the Register of Your Sins? Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: So, Peer Gynt, Where Is the Register of Your Sins? (Peer Gynt, Button-Moulder)

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Performer: Alex Jennings, Derek Jacobi, Inger Dam-Jensen

    51. Act V: Peer Gynt's Homecoming: Solveig's Cradle Song

      Composer: Edvard Grieg

      Ensemble: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

      Performer: Inger Dam-Jensen, Sophie Koch

      Conductor: Guillaume Tourniaire


The English translation excellently acted gives this fiery Peer new appeal.

Based on concerts the Suisse Romande Orchestra gave in Geneva and Lausanne, Guillaume Tourniaire's performance of the Benestad/Andersen critical edition of the score (essentially the 26 numbers given at the play's 1876 premiere) first appeared in 2005 (A/05). In my Gramophone Collection piece on Peer Gynt in November of that year I would have hailed it unreservedly as the best complete version of Grieg's theatre music had the dialogue and melodramas not been spoken in French. Now those spoken passages have been rendered into English, in a translation by Stephen Taylor which resonates without either period whimsy or banal updating.

The linking narrations and filleting of the play by Main Perroux have been made with sharp knowledge of the Ibsen drama and of what works in concert and on disc. The national characteristics of the actors intriguingly alter the feel of the piece. While Lambert Wilson and his French colleagues are more distanced, Brechtian and mysterious, the British trio immediately embrace a warmer, more comic naturalism. Alex Jennings's voice grows from rough Ulster into an assumed English RP as Peer travels the world; Derek Jacobi is a cunning mix of spooky and funny as the Boyg, here called the Great Obstacle, and no less effective in 10 other parts; Haydn Gwynne hops with enjoyable confidence across the age and sanity barriers from Peer's mother to his various girl friends.

Tourniaire has as much of an eye on the drama as the exceptional discs of excerpts under Beecham (EMI) and Masur (Philips). He has intuited and delivered a true Grieg style from his orchestra, alert, light, swift but not afraid to punch home the ironies (of the Trolls' various numbers) and the intentionally noisy stage effect climaxes (like the Act 5 shipwreck music). The two big melodramas ("Peer and the Obstacle" and "Night Scene") — perhaps the most compelling reasons for getting to know the complete score — find Grieg at his most progressive and inventive and Tourniaire paces them beautifully. Even his rits and rails in the tricky little vocal numbers of Peer's African sojourn in Act 4 come off to a tee.

With English-speaking listeners now as well catered for as French ones, Aeon should seriously consider a Norwegian version, even retaining Perroux's taut narrative material. The Ole Kristian Ruud/Bergen BIS Norwegian set (A105) is authentically self-recommending but it lacks the special fire and imagination of Tourniaire's.

-- Mike Ashman, Gramophone [3/2007]