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Halvorsen: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4 / Jarvi, Bergen Philharmonic
Chandos

Halvorsen: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4 / Jarvi, Bergen Philharmonic

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Details

Composer
HALVORSEN, JOHAN
Artist
Mandozzi, Klava, Jarvi
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Apr 24, 2012
Catalog #
CHAN 10710
UPC
095115171028

About

This is the fourth and final volume of colourful and highly appealing orchestral works by the Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen.

Based on the Passacaille (Chaconne) from the Harpsichord Suite No. 7 in G minor by Handel, Halvorsen’s Passacaglia is a virtuosic duo for solo violin and viola, later made world famous by artists such as Leopold Auer and Jascha Heifetz. It starts as a simple arrangement of Handel’s original score, but after the presentation of the theme and the first three variations it gradually differs more and more, until it finally frees itself entirely from the original and becomes pure ‘Halvorsen’.

Halvorsen wrote extensively for the stage, and his lifelong fascination with ‘exotic’ elements in music is evident in the ‘Dance Scene’ from the incidental music to Knut Hamsun’s Queen Tamara, a historical play set in the Caucasus. In contrast, the Symphonic Intermezzo from the music to Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson’s The King is presented in the form of a tone poem, its language strongly influenced by the musical universe of Liszt and Wagner.

Also on this disc is Halvorsen’s orchestration of Grieg’s piano piece Norwegian Bridal Procession. Other orchestral versions exist, among others by Frederick Delius, but in Grieg’s eyes only a native Norwegian could portray rural Norway in music without becoming too romantic or picturesque. Halvorsen’s lush, but non-idealising orchestration proved an immediate success, and at concerts and in the theatre over the next twenty-six years Halvorsen conducted the work at least 140 times.

He considered his Norwegian Fairy Tale Pictures to be one of his best works. The suite is vividly programmatic, drawn from music that he had written for a children’s comedy: violins portray the fairy tale hero, the flute plays the part of the abducted princess, while the villainous troll is represented by a motif in the bass.

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 Norwegian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major 10:41
    Track
    1
    Title
    Norwegian Rhapsody No. 1 in A Major
    Duration
    10:41
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  2. 2 Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2 in G Major 11:49
    Track
    2
    Title
    Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2 in G Major
    Duration
    11:49
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  3. 3 Folkelivsbilleder, Op. 19: No. 2. Brudefolget drager forbi (Bridal Procession) (arr. J. Halvorsen) 03:29
    Track
    3
    Title
    Folkelivsbilleder, Op. 19: No. 2. Brudefolget drager forbi (Bridal Procession) (arr. J. Halvorsen)
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Edvard Grieg
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  4. 4 Passacaglia in G Minor (after G.F. Handel's Keyboard Suite No. 7 in G Minor, HWV 432: VI. Passacaille) 07:10
    Track
    4
    Title
    Passacaglia in G Minor (after G.F. Handel's Keyboard Suite No. 7 in G Minor, HWV 432: VI. Passacaille)
    Duration
    07:10
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Performer
    Melina Mandozzi, Ilze Klava
  5. 5 Dance Scene from Queen Tamara 04:21
    Track
    5
    Title
    Dance Scene from Queen Tamara
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  6. 6 Kongen, Op. 19: Symphonic Intermezzo 08:27
    Track
    6
    Title
    Kongen, Op. 19: Symphonic Intermezzo
    Duration
    08:27
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  7. 7 Norwegian Festival Overture, Op. 16 07:59
    Track
    7
    Title
    Norwegian Festival Overture, Op. 16
    Duration
    07:59
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  8. 8 I. Peik, the Princess and the Giant Troll 05:53
    Track
    8
    Title
    I. Peik, the Princess and the Giant Troll
    Duration
    05:53
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  9. 9 I. Troldmoernes Dans 04:32
    Track
    9
    Title
    I. Troldmoernes Dans
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  10. 10 II. The Princess Riding on the Bear 03:12
    Track
    10
    Title
    II. The Princess Riding on the Bear
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  11. 11 III. Entry of the Trolls into the Blue Mountain 01:28
    Track
    11
    Title
    III. Entry of the Trolls into the Blue Mountain
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi
  12. 12 IV. Dance of the Little Trolls 03:03
    Track
    12
    Title
    IV. Dance of the Little Trolls
    Duration
    03:03
    Composer
    Johan Halvorsen
    Ensemble
    Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
    Conductor
    Neeme Järvi