Hugo Alfvén - Orchestral Works (Neeme Järvi)

Information

Composer: Hugo Alfvén

CD1

• Upsala-rapsodi (Swedish Rhapsody No. 2), Op. 24
• Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 7
• Drapa, Op. 27 (for large orchestra)
• Andante religioso

CD2

• Midsommarvaka (Swedish Rhapsody No. 1), Op. 19
• Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 11

CD3

• Dalarapsodi (Swedish Rhapsody No. 3), Op. 47
• Symphony No. 3 in E major, Op. 23
• Den förlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son), ballet suite

CD4

• En skärgårdssägen (A Legend of the Skerries), Op. 20
• Symphony No. 4 in C minor "Från havsbadet" (From the Outermost Skerries), Op. 39

CD5

• Bergakungen (The Mountain King), ballet suite, Op. 37
• Symphony No. 5 in A minor, Op. 54
• Elegy, Op. 49 (from Gustav II Adolf)

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

Neeme Järvi, conductor

Date: 2004

Label: BIS

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

BIS have been repackaging their earlier recorded symphony cycles for some time now and now it is Hugo Alfvén's turn. These excellent recordings had been issued on single full price discs with the same fillers but this time they are being offered at five for the price of three, an excellent bargain in my opinion.

Alfvén's music is full of romantic allusions and is permeated with several influences from the Northern hemisphere replete with legend. The famous Swedish Rhapsodies have received good outings on tape before but Järvi conducts with evident spirit and he is rather brilliantly backed up by the Royal Stockholm Orchestra. When one compares to Bjarte Engeset on Naxos, Järvi really comes up trumps, especially in the Third Rhapsody.

The symphonies also benefit from Järvi's knowledge in this repertoire and BIS' outstanding sonics. The first three are fairly straightforward works rather in the mould of Svendsen and Halvorsen with burgeoning first movements and exciting finales and they are pretty much unbeatable in Järvi's hands. The Fourth, carrying the descriptive title, 'From the Outermost Skerries' is in one long movement and there are no separate tracks making it one 45 minute listen. The Fifth is also very well conceived and lasts just over three quarters of an hour too and this time, it is in four movements tracked separately, at least. Again, Järvi is a fine interpreter bringing out the character and colour of these expansive works.

Collectors new to Alfvén's music will definitely enjoy the 'Prodigal Son' and 'A Tale from the Archipelago' which are very beautiful works all round. At this price, this set is definitely worth a listen and should also be the standard recommendation for Alfvén's symphonic music for many years to come.

— Gerald Fenech

-----------------------------------------------------------

Hugo Alfvén (1 May 1872 – 8 May 1960) was a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist, and painter. Born in Stockholm, he studied at the Royal College of Music, as well as in Brussels and Dresden. From 1910 to 1939 he was Director musices at the University of Uppsala. Alfvén is considered as one of Sweden's foremost composers whose music combined central European stylistic features with Swedish folk music. Among his works are a large number of pieces for male voice choir, five symphonies and three Swedish Rhapsodies. Alfvén was also a talented watercolor painter and a gifted writer.

***

Neeme Järvi (born June 7, 1937 in Tallinn) is an Estonian conductor. He studied at the Leningrad Conservatory under Evgeny Mravinsky and Nikolai Rabinovich, among others. Järvi was Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Gothenburg Symphony (1982-2004), Royal Scottish National Orchestra (1984-1988), Detroit Symphony Orchestra (1990-2005) and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (2012-2015), among others. He made over 400 recordings for labels such as BIS, Chandos and Deutsche Grammophon and best known for his interpretations of Romantic and 20th century classical music.

-----------------------------------------------------------