Customer Reviews

Edvard Grieg: Norwegian Dances; Symphonic Dances; Lyric Suite [Hybrid SACD]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is astonishing that this is the first Amazon review of this Grieg disc, one of a series of distinguished Grieg recordings by Ole Kristian Ruud and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. This disc, recorded 2002-3, includes first-rate performances of the Norwegian Dances, Symphonic Dances and Lyric Suite, all staples of the Grieg repertory. The others that I would recommend as essential are Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites [Hybrid SACD] and Grieg: Holberg Suite [Hybrid SACD], which include the music from Peer Gynt, the Holberg Suite, and miscellaneous shorter pieces. There are several other discs in Ruud's Grieg series that I haven't heard, the most prominent of which includes the piano concerto and the lesser known Symphony in C Minor, a work which Grieg withdrew and that wasn't revived until 1981.

Grieg was famous for his piano music, particularly the beautiful Lyric Pieces, and the three works on this disc were all written for piano first and then later arranged for orchestra. All of the music incorporates Norwegian folk material and is immensely appealing. The four movement Symphonic Dances is really splendid music, filled with all the trademarks of Grieg. The Lyric Suite, arranged from Grieg's fifth book of popular op. 54 Lyric Pieces, is drop-dead gorgeous, especially the second movement (Norwegian March.)

While I'm not about to make the argument that being Norwegian confers special authority on the players and conductor in this music, I do think that Ruud and the Bergen orchestra bring a special edge to these idiomatic performances. Others, however, have succeeded at least as well in this repertory. Of recent Grieg recordings I would point to the superb performances of the Norwegian Dances and other pieces by Engeset and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on Naxos: Grieg: Norwegian Dances; Ballade; Slåtter. I would recommend both this disc and Ruud's, despite the duplication of the Norwegian Dances.

That Ruud's series of Grieg recordings won the Grieg Award in 2007, the hundredth anniversary of the composer's death, just adds to the luster of the BPO's reputation in this music. Very highly recommended!