Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner – Grieg: Symphonic Dances (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edward Gardner – Grieg: Symphonic Dances (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:03:48 minutes | 1019 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Grieg’s four Symphonic Dances are a late work, completed in 1898. Grieg takes his inspiration (as in so much of his output) from traditional Norwegian folk tunes, and the four movements together deliver a symphonic unity in their overall effect. Both Bergliot and Before a Southern Convent are written on texts by Grieg’s good friend the author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who was also a theatre manager in Oslo. Bjørnson is considered one of the four great Norwegian authors alongside Ibsen, Lie, and Kielland, received the 1903 Nobel Prize for literature, and wrote the words for the Norwegian national anthem. Bergliot – a declamation with orchestra – tells the story of a dramatic episode involving the chieftain Einar Tambarskjelve and his son Eindride, killed by King Harald Hårdråde. Before a Southern Convent is a more traditional setting – requiring two vocal soloists, female choir, and orchestra rather than the narrator of Bergliot – of the story of the folk-hero and barbarian Arnljot Gelline. In the course of his wild escapades, he killed a chieftain, but allowed the chieftain’s daughter, Ingigerd, to live. This daughter left the homestead and wandered southwards in poverty – through Europe. At long last she arrived at a convent which granted her admittance. The album is completed by the Funeral March for Rikard Nordraak – a friend of Grieg’s, who died of tuberculosis in 1866. Grieg conceived it first for solo piano, but whilst travelling by train to Bergen to attend Grieg’s funeral, Johan Halvorsen made the orchestral arrangement heard in this recording.

Tracklist:
1-1. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – I. Allegro moderato e marcato (06:28)
1-2. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – II. Allegretto grazioso (06:58)
1-3. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – III. Allegro giocoso (05:24)
1-4. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – IV. Andante – Allegro molto e risoluto (11:11)
1-5. Juni Dahr – Bergliot, Op. 42 (17:22)
1-6. Mari Eriksmoen – Before a Southern Convent, Op. 20 (09:24)
1-7. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – Funeral March for Rikard Nordraak, EG 107 (Arr. for Orchestra by Johan Halvorsen) (06:56)

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