BIS
Grieg: Peer Gynt Op. 23 / Ruud, Hagegård, Et Al
$34.99
Details
- Composer
- GRIEG, EDVARD
- Artist
- Torbjorn, Ha, Stale, Gulbrandsoy, Bjorn Willberg, Bjornhaug, Andersen
- Format
- SACD
- Label
- BIS
- Released
- May 01, 2005
- Catalog #
- BIS-SACD-1441-42
- UPC
- 7318591441427
About
This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.

If you want Grieg's complete Peer Gynt with dialogue, this is the set to own. It really does represent a new standard, musically, dramatically, and technically. Let me say up front that ordinarily I'm not a fan of music with dialogue, but these actors are so involved, and their participation is so skillfully integrated into the acoustic framework and the musical flow, that the sound of idiomatically spoken Norwegian becomes a sort of quasi-musical counterpoint all on its own. Of course, it helps that the actual music, as realized by Ruud and his Bergen forces, also is outstandingly played and sung. His interpretation has all of the necessary freshness and energy that Grieg's score requires. It's theatrical and exciting but also sensitive; rustic without being crude.
High points are almost too numerous to list: there's Ruud's ebullient overture and his perfectly judged accelerando at In the Hall of the Mountain King; the rush of excitement when Peer Gynt is being hunted by the trolls; the characterfully grotesque Dance of the Mountain King's Daughter; the effortless flow of Morning Mood; Anitra's sexy little belly dance; a wonderfully urgent Peer Gynt's Homecoming; a terrifying shipwreck that happily avoids tacky sound effects; and it's all capped by the beautiful vocal contributions of Marita Solberg, who sings a particularly earthy, warm-toned Solveig. As with all the participants in this performance, she seems not just concerned with getting the notes right, but she's also fully involved with the text and in communicating what the music means, almost as if it were new. The chorus also characterizes its part with enthusiasm, avoiding that "churchy" feel that sometimes dogs performances with voices (except, of course, in the Whitsun Hymn, where it's called for).
It's also worth pointing out the extreme care that BIS has taken over production values. In SACD multichannel format, not only do you get enhanced three-dimensionality with respect to the basic soundstage, but sensitive use of the rear speakers creates atmosphere--for example, at such moments as the scene with the Boyg, or at various places requiring offstage voices--without ever drawing gratuitous attention to the technical side of things. The bottom line is that this production offers an unparalleled experience of Grieg's music in which the technology is placed entirely in the service of musical and theatrical values. The packaging and presentation are also exceptional: you get two booklets, one with notes and texts (Norwegian and English), the other with production stills from the actual play. Clearly everyone concerned with this release has pulled out all of the stops, and it has paid off handsomely. An exceptional achievement. [6/28/2005]
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

If you want Grieg's complete Peer Gynt with dialogue, this is the set to own. It really does represent a new standard, musically, dramatically, and technically. Let me say up front that ordinarily I'm not a fan of music with dialogue, but these actors are so involved, and their participation is so skillfully integrated into the acoustic framework and the musical flow, that the sound of idiomatically spoken Norwegian becomes a sort of quasi-musical counterpoint all on its own. Of course, it helps that the actual music, as realized by Ruud and his Bergen forces, also is outstandingly played and sung. His interpretation has all of the necessary freshness and energy that Grieg's score requires. It's theatrical and exciting but also sensitive; rustic without being crude.
High points are almost too numerous to list: there's Ruud's ebullient overture and his perfectly judged accelerando at In the Hall of the Mountain King; the rush of excitement when Peer Gynt is being hunted by the trolls; the characterfully grotesque Dance of the Mountain King's Daughter; the effortless flow of Morning Mood; Anitra's sexy little belly dance; a wonderfully urgent Peer Gynt's Homecoming; a terrifying shipwreck that happily avoids tacky sound effects; and it's all capped by the beautiful vocal contributions of Marita Solberg, who sings a particularly earthy, warm-toned Solveig. As with all the participants in this performance, she seems not just concerned with getting the notes right, but she's also fully involved with the text and in communicating what the music means, almost as if it were new. The chorus also characterizes its part with enthusiasm, avoiding that "churchy" feel that sometimes dogs performances with voices (except, of course, in the Whitsun Hymn, where it's called for).
It's also worth pointing out the extreme care that BIS has taken over production values. In SACD multichannel format, not only do you get enhanced three-dimensionality with respect to the basic soundstage, but sensitive use of the rear speakers creates atmosphere--for example, at such moments as the scene with the Boyg, or at various places requiring offstage voices--without ever drawing gratuitous attention to the technical side of things. The bottom line is that this production offers an unparalleled experience of Grieg's music in which the technology is placed entirely in the service of musical and theatrical values. The packaging and presentation are also exceptional: you get two booklets, one with notes and texts (Norwegian and English), the other with production stills from the actual play. Clearly everyone concerned with this release has pulled out all of the stops, and it has paid off handsomely. An exceptional achievement. [6/28/2005]
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
Tracklist 51 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Act I: Prelude (I Bryllupsgarden) (At the Wedding) 04:57
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Act I: Prelude (I Bryllupsgarden) (At the Wedding)
- Duration
- 04:57
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
2 Act I Scene 1: Bukkerittet (The Buckride) 02:10
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act I Scene 1: Bukkerittet (The Buckride)
- Duration
- 02:10
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
3 Act I Scene 2: Bryllupsmarsj (Wedding March) 03:18
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act I Scene 2: Bryllupsmarsj (Wedding March)
- Duration
- 03:18
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
4 Act I Scene 2: Pa vei til Hegstad (On the Way to Hegstad) 00:52
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act I Scene 2: Pa vei til Hegstad (On the Way to Hegstad)
- Duration
- 00:52
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
5 Act I Scene 2: Halling 00:47
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act I Scene 2: Halling
- Duration
- 00:47
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
6 Act I Scene 3: Springar: Bryllupet pa Hegstad (Springar: The Wedding at Hegstad) 02:31
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act I Scene 3: Springar: Bryllupet pa Hegstad (Springar: The Wedding at Hegstad)
- Duration
- 02:31
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
7 Act II: Prelude (Bruderovet) (The Abduction of the Bride) 04:01
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act II: Prelude (Bruderovet) (The Abduction of the Bride)
- Duration
- 04:01
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
8 Act II Scene 1: Peer Gynt og Ingrid (Peer Gynt and Ingrid) 00:56
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act II Scene 1: Peer Gynt og Ingrid (Peer Gynt and Ingrid)
- Duration
- 00:56
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
9 Act II Scene 3: Peer Gynt pa flukt (Peer Gynt on the Run) 00:24
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act II Scene 3: Peer Gynt pa flukt (Peer Gynt on the Run)
- Duration
- 00:24
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
10 Act II Scene 3: Peer Gynt og Saeterjentene (Peer Gynt and the Herd-Girls) 03:34
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act II Scene 3: Peer Gynt og Saeterjentene (Peer Gynt and the Herd-Girls)
- Duration
- 03:34
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
11 Act II Scene 5: Peer Gynt og Den Gronnkledde (Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green) 02:23
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act II Scene 5: Peer Gynt og Den Gronnkledde (Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green)
- Duration
- 02:23
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
12 Act II Scene 5: Peer Gynt og Den Gronnkledde, forts. (Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green, cont.) 01:34
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act II Scene 5: Peer Gynt og Den Gronnkledde, forts. (Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green, cont.)
- Duration
- 01:34
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
13 Act II Scene 5: Pa ridestellet skal storfolk kjennes (Great Folk may be Known by the Mounts…) 00:18
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act II Scene 5: Pa ridestellet skal storfolk kjennes (Great Folk may be Known by the Mounts…)
- Duration
- 00:18
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
14 Act II Scene 6: I Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King) 02:43
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Act II Scene 6: I Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)
- Duration
- 02:43
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
15 Act II Scene 6: Peer Gynts mote med Dovregubben (Peer Gynt Meets the Mountain King) 01:24
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Act II Scene 6: Peer Gynts mote med Dovregubben (Peer Gynt Meets the Mountain King)
- Duration
- 01:24
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
16 Act II Scene 6: Dans av Dovregubbens datter (Dance of the Mountain King's Daughter) 01:40
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Act II Scene 6: Dans av Dovregubbens datter (Dance of the Mountain King's Daughter)
- Duration
- 01:40
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
17 Act II Scene 6: Ut av Dovregubbens hall (Out of the Mountain King's Hall) 00:55
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Act II Scene 6: Ut av Dovregubbens hall (Out of the Mountain King's Hall)
- Duration
- 00:55
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
18 Act II Scene 6: Peer Gynt jages av troll (Peer Gynt Hunted by the Trolls) 03:18
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Act II Scene 6: Peer Gynt jages av troll (Peer Gynt Hunted by the Trolls)
- Duration
- 03:18
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
19 Act II Scene 7: Peer Gynt og Boygen (Peer Gynt and the Boyg) 04:17
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Act II Scene 7: Peer Gynt og Boygen (Peer Gynt and the Boyg)
- Duration
- 04:17
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
20 Act III Scene 3: Peer Gynt og Solveig (Peer Gynt and Solveig) 00:36
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Act III Scene 3: Peer Gynt og Solveig (Peer Gynt and Solveig)
- Duration
- 00:36
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
21 Act III: Prelude (Forspill til Ases dod) (Prelude to the Death of Ase) 04:28
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Act III: Prelude (Forspill til Ases dod) (Prelude to the Death of Ase)
- Duration
- 04:28
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
22 Act III Scene 4: Ases dod (The Death of Ase) 05:50
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Act III Scene 4: Ases dod (The Death of Ase)
- Duration
- 05:50
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
- Disc 2
-
1 Act IV: Prelude (Morgenstemning) (Morning Mood) 03:50
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Act IV: Prelude (Morgenstemning) (Morning Mood)
- Duration
- 03:50
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
2 Act IV Scene 1: I Marokko (In Morocco) 01:23
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Act IV Scene 1: I Marokko (In Morocco)
- Duration
- 01:23
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
3 Act IV Scene 5: Tyven og heleren (The Thief and the Receiver) 01:26
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Act IV Scene 5: Tyven og heleren (The Thief and the Receiver)
- Duration
- 01:26
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
4 Act IV Scene 5: Peer Gynt blir profet (Peer Gynt Becomes a Prophet) 00:34
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Act IV Scene 5: Peer Gynt blir profet (Peer Gynt Becomes a Prophet)
- Duration
- 00:34
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
5 Act IV Scene 6: Arabisk dans (Arabian Dance) 04:47
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Act IV Scene 6: Arabisk dans (Arabian Dance)
- Duration
- 04:47
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
6 Act IV Scene 6: Profet og hersker (Prophet and Ruler) 00:14
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Act IV Scene 6: Profet og hersker (Prophet and Ruler)
- Duration
- 00:14
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
7 Act IV Scene 6: Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance) 03:29
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Act IV Scene 6: Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance)
- Duration
- 03:29
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
8 Act IV Scene 6: Profetens juvel (The Prophet's Jewel) 00:51
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Act IV Scene 6: Profetens juvel (The Prophet's Jewel)
- Duration
- 00:51
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
9 Act IV Scene 7: Peer Gynts Serenade (Peer Gynt's Serenade) 02:44
- Track
- 9
- Title
- Act IV Scene 7: Peer Gynts Serenade (Peer Gynt's Serenade)
- Duration
- 02:44
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
10 Act IV Scene 9: Peer Gynt og Anitra (Peer Gynt and Anitra) 00:14
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Act IV Scene 9: Peer Gynt og Anitra (Peer Gynt and Anitra)
- Duration
- 00:14
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
11 Act IV Scene 9: Peer Gynt og Anitra, forts. (Peer Gynt and Anitra, cont.) 02:00
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Act IV Scene 9: Peer Gynt og Anitra, forts. (Peer Gynt and Anitra, cont.)
- Duration
- 02:00
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
12 Act IV Scene 9: Forlatt i okenen (Alone in the Desert) 00:42
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Act IV Scene 9: Forlatt i okenen (Alone in the Desert)
- Duration
- 00:42
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
13 Act IV Scene 10: Solveigs sang (Solveig's Song) 05:28
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Act IV Scene 10: Solveigs sang (Solveig's Song)
- Duration
- 05:28
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
14 Act IV Scene 11: Peer Gynt i Egypt (Peer Gynt in Egypt) 00:17
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Act IV Scene 11: Peer Gynt i Egypt (Peer Gynt in Egypt)
- Duration
- 00:17
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
15 Act IV Scene 11: Peer Gynt ved Memnonstotten (Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon) 02:10
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Act IV Scene 11: Peer Gynt ved Memnonstotten (Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon)
- Duration
- 02:10
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
16 Act IV Scene 12: Peer Gynt og Begriffenfeldt (Peer Gynt and Begriffenfeldt) 01:30
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Act IV Scene 12: Peer Gynt og Begriffenfeldt (Peer Gynt and Begriffenfeldt)
- Duration
- 01:30
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
17 Act V: Prelude (Peer Gynts hjemfart) (Peer Gynt's Homecoming) 02:23
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Act V: Prelude (Peer Gynts hjemfart) (Peer Gynt's Homecoming)
- Duration
- 02:23
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
18 Act V Scene 1: Utenfor den norske kyst (Off the Norwegian Coast) 01:27
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Act V Scene 1: Utenfor den norske kyst (Off the Norwegian Coast)
- Duration
- 01:27
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
19 Act V (Between Scene 1 & 2): Skipsforliset (Shipwreck) 01:15
- Track
- 19
- Title
- Act V (Between Scene 1 & 2): Skipsforliset (Shipwreck)
- Duration
- 01:15
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
20 Act V Scene 2: Pa bathvelvet (On the Boat Hull) 00:35
- Track
- 20
- Title
- Act V Scene 2: Pa bathvelvet (On the Boat Hull)
- Duration
- 00:35
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
21 Act V Scene 5: Solveig synger i hytten (Solveig Sings in the Hut) 01:42
- Track
- 21
- Title
- Act V Scene 5: Solveig synger i hytten (Solveig Sings in the Hut)
- Duration
- 01:42
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
22 Act V Scene 5: Peer Gynt ved hytten (Peer Gynt by the Hut) 00:19
- Track
- 22
- Title
- Act V Scene 5: Peer Gynt ved hytten (Peer Gynt by the Hut)
- Duration
- 00:19
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
23 Act V Scene 6: Nattscene (Night Scene) 07:04
- Track
- 23
- Title
- Act V Scene 6: Nattscene (Night Scene)
- Duration
- 07:04
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
24 Act V Scene 7 & 9: Peer Gynt og Knappestoperen (Peer Gynt and the Button Moulder) 02:08
- Track
- 24
- Title
- Act V Scene 7 & 9: Peer Gynt og Knappestoperen (Peer Gynt and the Button Moulder)
- Duration
- 02:08
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
25 Act V Scene 10: Deilige sol og deilige jord (Lovely Sun and Lovely Earth) 01:33
- Track
- 25
- Title
- Act V Scene 10: Deilige sol og deilige jord (Lovely Sun and Lovely Earth)
- Duration
- 01:33
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
26 Act V Scene 10: Pinsesalme: Velsignede morgen (Whitsun Hymn: Oh Blessed Morning) 01:14
- Track
- 26
- Title
- Act V Scene 10: Pinsesalme: Velsignede morgen (Whitsun Hymn: Oh Blessed Morning)
- Duration
- 01:14
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
27 Act V Scene 10: Utenfor hytten (Outside the Hut) 01:02
- Track
- 27
- Title
- Act V Scene 10: Utenfor hytten (Outside the Hut)
- Duration
- 01:02
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
28 Act V Scene 10: Peer Gynt og Solveig (Peer Gynt and Solveig) 01:09
- Track
- 28
- Title
- Act V Scene 10: Peer Gynt og Solveig (Peer Gynt and Solveig)
- Duration
- 01:09
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg
-
29 Act V Scene 10: Solveigs vuggevise (Solveig's Cradle Song) 05:57
- Track
- 29
- Title
- Act V Scene 10: Solveigs vuggevise (Solveig's Cradle Song)
- Duration
- 05:57
- Composer
- Edvard Grieg