Notes and Editorial Reviews
Some of this music has been recorded before, by BIS, but the overture and the complete Kalanus Suite aren't otherwise available. Christian Horneman (1840-1906) wrote comparatively little music, most of it for the theater, and all of it (that I've heard anyway) is of high quality. The idiom is late romantic, the melodic invention consistently attractive, the scoring colorful and ear-catching. The music leaves you wanting more. The Gurre-Suite follows the same basic story as Schoenberg's Gurrelieder, except that in this version Tove gets locked in a sauna and steamed to death rather than poisoned by the jealous queen. The four concise movements consist of an overture, a love scene, Tove's funeral
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procession, and a brief Entr'acte as a finale.
The other major work here is the suite from Kalanus, in five relatively substantial movements--but arguably the most fun comes from the two dances (of satyrs and a bacchanal, respectively) in "Contest with the Muses". Trust me, it's all good, and the performances are absolutely terrific, with Johannes Gustavsson encouraging his players to give their very best. Dacapo's SACD engineering is also excellent. It may be that Horneman's entire life's work can be summed up on a single CD (not necessarily a bad thing in these days of mega-boxed sets), but it's one you won't want to miss.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Gurre: Suite by Christian Emil Horneman
Conductor:
Johannes Gustavsson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1901; Denmark
2.
Overture héroique by Christian Emil Horneman
Conductor:
Johannes Gustavsson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1867; Denmark
3.
Kalanus: Suite by Christian Emil Horneman
Conductor:
Johannes Gustavsson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1890; Denmark
4.
The Struggle with the Muses: Suite by Christian Emil Horneman
Conductor:
Johannes Gustavsson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish National Symphony Orchestra,
Danish National Vocal Ensemble
Period: Romantic
Written: 1908; Denmark
Sound Samples
Gurre Suite: I. Ouverture (Overture): Allegro non troppo
Gurre Suite: II. Forspeil til 2 Akt. Volmer og Tove (Prelude to Act 2: Volmer and Tove): Allegretto
Gurre Suite: III. Forspil til 4 Akt. Toves Ligfaerd (Prelude to Act 4: Tove´s Funeral Precession): Largo
Gurre Suite: IV. Forspil til 5 Akt. I Skoven ved Gurre (Prelude to Act 5: In the Woods near Gurre): Allegro nonn troppo
Kampen med Muserne (The Fight against the Muses): I. Soloppgang (Sunrise): Andantino - Tranquillo quasi ad libitum
Kampen med Muserne (The Fight against the Muses): II. Muse-Kor (Chorus of the Muses)
Kampen med Muserne (The Fight against the Muses): III. Satyrdans (Dance of the Satyrs): Andantino
Kampen med Muserne (The Fight against the Muses): IV. Bakkantisk dans (Bacchanale): Allegro con brio
Kalanus: I. Introduction and Prayer: Andante sostenuto - Andante
Kalanus: II. Festive and the Sentencing of : Allegri vivace - Andantino
Kalanus: III. Alexander: Allegro con fuoco
Kalanus: IV. i Feberdromme ('s Feverish Dreams)
Kalanus: V. Introduction to Act V (Death of ): Molto maestoso
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