Allan Pettersson - Symphony No. 14 (Christian Lindberg)

Information

Composer: Allan Pettersson

• Symphony No. 14

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra

Christian Lindberg, conductor

Date: 2017

Label: BIS

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Review

Allan Pettersson never heard his Fourteenth Symphony (1977 78). Premiered 17 months after his death in June 1980, it has fared relatively well, at least on disc, the present issue being its third recording. Sergiu Commissiona’s came first, a Phono Suecia recording made the week after the first performance in December 1981. Although rather hard to find now, as a performance it stands up very well and set the benchmark. Johann Arnell’s with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra followed a dozen years later and, while not displacing Commissiona’s, is still widely available in CPO’s box-set.

Many commentators have noted that the Fourteenth, like No 15, is lighter and more varied in mood and texture than its predecessors. Do not be misled by this, or the quiet, almost translucently scored opening – No 14 delivers all the typical Petterssonian fingerprints and traits in a freewheeling contrapuntal structure running for over 52 minutes. It is shot through with lighter passages, and Christian Lindberg’s more expansive view, taking almost five minutes longer than Commissiona and Arnell, underscores this. As with the Sixth Symphony and Second Violin Concerto, No 14 is based on one of the composer’s Barefoot Songs, imparting a lyrical impulse brought out more fully by Lindberg than before.

The Norrköping Symphony Orchestra are once again on superb form. They really have the idiom under their fingers, directed by the man who is now unquestionably Pettersson’s foremost champion. BIS’s recording once again has great presence and depth, outpointing both rivals, so that this new account is now market leader. The bonus DVD of a sometimes combative Pettersson in conversation, with occasional contributions from his brothers (there are subtitles in English only), makes this self-recommending.

— Guy Rickards

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Allan Pettersson (19 September 1911 – 20 June 1980) was a Swedish composer and violist. He is considered one of the 20th century's most important Swedish composers. He studied at the Swedish Royal Academy of Music, and later in Paris with René Leibowitz, Arthur Honegger, Olivier Messiaen and Darius Milhaud. Pettersson was best known as the creator of Barfotasånger, a collection of 24 songs for voice and piano set to his own lyrics. He also wrote 16 symphonies, choral and chamber music, and a number of orchestral pieces. His symphonies are often compared to Mahler's symphonic output.

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Christian Lindberg (born 15 February 1958) is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer. In the course of an exceptional career, Lindberg has single-handedly established the trombone as a solo instrument and was the first Swedish instrumentalist to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Today he devotes most of his time to composing, with commissions from ensembles such as the CSO and the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Lindberg also has a flourishing conducting career. His acclaimed and wide-ranging discography on BIS includes more than 50 CDs.

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