Horneman: Orchestral Works / Gustavsson, Danish National Symphony Orchestra

$13.99
Label
Dacapo Classical
Release Date
February 28, 2012
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      HORNEMAN, CHRISTIAN FREDERIK E
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Danish National Symphony Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Gustavsson
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 28, 2012
    • UPC
      747313156467
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      6220564
    • LABEL
      Dacapo Classical
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Ouverture (Overture): Allegro non troppo

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    2. II. Forspeil til 2 Akt. Volmer og Tove (Prelude to Act 2: Volmer and Tove): Allegretto

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    3. III. Forspil til 4 Akt. Toves Ligfaerd (Prelude to Act 4: Tove´s Funeral Precession): Largo

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    4. IV. Forspil til 5 Akt. I Skoven ved Gurre (Prelude to Act 5: In the Woods near Gurre): Allegro nonn troppo

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    5. I. Soloppgang (Sunrise): Andantino - Tranquillo quasi ad libitum

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    6. II. Muse-Kor (Chorus of the Muses)

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: DR VokalEnsemblet, Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    7. III. Satyrdans (Dance of the Satyrs): Andantino

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    8. IV. Bakkantisk dans (Bacchanale): Allegro con brio

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    9. Ouverture Heroique

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    10. I. Introduction and Prayer: Andante sostenuto - Andante

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    11. II. Festive and the Sentencing of Kalanus: Allegri vivace - Andantino

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    12. III. Alexander: Allegro con fuoco

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    13. IV. Kalanus i Feberdromme (Kalanus's Feverish Dreams)

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson

    14. V. Introduction to Act V (Death of Kalanus): Molto maestoso

      Composer: Christian Frederik Emil Horneman

      Ensemble: Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Johannes Gustavsson



Some of this music has been recorded before, by BIS, but the overture and the complete Kalanus Suite aren't otherwise available. Christian Horneman (1840-1906) wrote comparatively little music, most of it for the theater, and all of it (that I've heard anyway) is of high quality. The idiom is late romantic, the melodic invention consistently attractive, the scoring colorful and ear-catching. The music leaves you wanting more. The Gurre-Suite follows the same basic story as Schoenberg's Gurrelieder, except that in this version Tove gets locked in a sauna and steamed to death rather than poisoned by the jealous queen. The four concise movements consist of an overture, a love scene, Tove's funeral procession, and a brief Entr'acte as a finale.

The other major work here is the suite from Kalanus, in five relatively substantial movements--but arguably the most fun comes from the two dances (of satyrs and a bacchanal, respectively) in "Contest with the Muses". Trust me, it's all good, and the performances are absolutely terrific, with Johannes Gustavsson encouraging his players to give their very best. Dacapo's SACD engineering is also excellent. It may be that Horneman's entire life's work can be summed up on a single CD (not necessarily a bad thing in these days of mega-boxed sets), but it's one you won't want to miss.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com