Customer Reviews

Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 ("Sinfonie sérieuse") & 2 ("Sinfonie capricieuse")

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You're in for a major discovery if you buy this first-rate - but ridiculously inexpensive - disc of Swedish Romantic composer Franz Berwald's first two symphonies. (A companion disc contains symphonies 3 & 4. Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 3 And 4 / Piano Concerto) David Hurwitz brackets Berwald (1798-1869) with Schumann and Mendelssohn. True, and the melodic and coloristic influences of the two Germans are obvious enough. But the other major influence on Berwald was Berlioz whose music inspired the Swedish composer's wonderfully quirky textures and rhythms. Berwald was an early Romantic and his music is almost verdantly fresh: to my mind, it constantly evokes the dappled light and shade of a northern forest in midsummer. (Hey, I grew up in Minnesota. I know "northern forests in midsummer!") There aren't many major nineteenth century composers remaining to be discovered, and Berwald is still too little known outside Scandinavia. Back in the '50s and '60s, his music found international champions in conductors like Igor Markevitch and Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt. But even they failed to ignite the enthusiastic reception that audiences eventually gave to mavericks like Bruckner, Mahler and Nielsen. Berwald isn't as great a composer as those three; his symphonies never strive to reach the stars. But, as compensation, they completely avoid the heaviness and portentousness of much later Romantic music. All four are thoroughly lovely and a joy to hear. And at the Naxos price, you can afford to take a (very small) chance. Performances, by a fine Scandinavian orchestra and gifted Finnish conductor, are completely idiomatic and the digital sound is fabulous. (As a bonus, this disc also includes the overture to Berwald's opera "Estrella di Soria." The companion disc includes, besides symphonies 3 and 4, Berwald's delightful piano concerto.) Go for it!