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5.0 out of 5 stars
Grieg's C Minor Symphony and other Works, October 5, 2007
This review is from: Grieg Symphony in C Minor (Three Pieces from Sigurd Jorsalfar) (Audio CD)
Grieg composed his C Minor Symphony when he was only 20 years old. He is said to have called it the "forbidden symphony that must never be performed". The opening movement are wonderful melodies of stirring marches, heroic material and romantic themes. The lyrical, tender Adagio espressivo second movement and especially the Intermezzo you can hear the influence Schumann and Mendelssohn's music had on Grieg. The fast tempos inform the finale which is full of virtuosity. The Malmo players rise magnificently to the work's challenges, sensitively recognizing the Symphony's subtle harmonic shifts. Grieg's Old Norwegian Romance with Variations is built on the heroic ballad melody, Sjugur and the Troll Bride, stated after a short dark introduction. Grieg wanted to show how great a potential there was in such a folk tune. In the 18 variations, Grieg skilfully wrote music in an impressive range of moods and styles of marches, minuets, waltzes, lyrical, tranquil, all engagingly melodic. With the Three Orchestral Pieces from Sigurd Jorsalfar we reach more familiar ground. The play revolves around two brothers, Sigurd with his calling to the crusades and the gentle home loving Eystejn. Borghild's Dream begins calmly but grows agitated as her sleep becomes increasingly troubled, the music building a powerful sense of dread. The Malmo players perform, with nice intensity, the much performed Homage March which has a ceremonial and a regal heroic quality about it. This is a great cd for any one interested in Grieg's familar to lesser known works that are all beautiffuly performed.
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