Notes and Editorial Reviews
GRIEG
Symphonic Dances.
Peer Gynt
Suites Nos. 1, 2. Funeral March
•
Eivind Aadland, cond.; WDR SO Cologne
•
AUDITE 92.651 (SACD: 73:22)
The wonderful regional orchestras of Germany, from Bavaria, Dresden, and in the present case Cologne, broadcast a richness and intensity of expression that is sometimes skirted by the slicker high-voltage bands in Berlin, Vienna, and London. You can certainly hear it here, in these passionate and gutsy
Read more
performances. It helps that the Cologne forces are led by the charismatic young Norwegian conductor Eivind Aadland, who was a violinist, and one of the last student of Menuhin, before turning his attention to the podium.
This is Volume 1 of Audite’s projected set of five CDs of the complete orchestral music of Grieg, with these same forces, all derived from live broadcasts. I can’t say that there are any revelations in these readings, but they are immensely enjoyable, and the recorded sound is excellent, full-bodied, very even across the frequency spectrum, and very natural. The many solo appearances in the scores allow for demonstrations of the depth of the orchestra’s musicianship in a vivid way. The only times the performances seem lacking
vis-à-vis
the big boys is in the most virtuosic passages, most notably in the crescendo and accelerando of “Hall of the Mountain King,” but even here I prefer the earthiness of this reading to the slickness of Karajan, Ormandy, et al. This is my new go-to album for these sturdy warhorses.
FANFARE: Peter Burwasser
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Symphonic Dances (4), Op. 64 by Edvard Grieg
Conductor:
Eivind Aadland
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896-1897; Norway
2.
Peer Gynt Suite no 1, Op. 46 by Edvard Grieg
Conductor:
Eivind Aadland
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1875/1888; Norway
3.
Peer Gynt Suite no 2, Op. 55 by Edvard Grieg
Conductor:
Eivind Aadland
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1875/1892; Norway
4.
Funeral March in Memory of Richard Nordraak, EG 107 by Edvard Grieg
Conductor:
Eivind Aadland
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Norway
Sound Samples
Symphonic Dances, Op. 64: I. Allegro moderato e marcato
Symphonic Dances, Op. 64: II. Allegretto grazioso
Symphonic Dances, Op. 64: III. Allegro giocoso
Symphonic Dances, Op. 64: IV. Andante - Allegro risoluto
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. Morning Mood
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: II. The Death of Aase
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: III. Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: I. Ingrid's Lament
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: II. Arabian Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: III. Peer Gynt's Homecoming
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: IV. Solveig's Song
Sorgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak (Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak), EG 107 (version for orchestra): Sorgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak (Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak) (version for orchestra)
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Outstanding Performance August 21, 2012
By Richard H. (Glendale, AZ) See All My Reviews
"These are very familiar works that anyone who has watched "LooneyTunes" has heard many times. Peer is probably the most borrowed piece of music ever written. This is an excellent performance by Aadland and co. Maybe even the best I've heard which is no small statement when you consider how many I have heard. Heartily recommend this recording to anyone who likes Peer Gynt."
Report Abuse
Review This Title
