I am not a great enthusiast of
‘historic recordings’, usually preferring the latest CD or download version of
any given work (assuming the performance is great). There are exceptions to
this ‘rule’ either when the work is unavailable in any other recording or when
there is near-universal agreement that Boult’s, Beecham’s, Barbirolli’s (or
whoever’s) reading of a particular work is ‘the best.’ And then there are my
favourite pianists – Moura Lympany, Myra Hess, Eileen Joyce – all of whom I happily
accept in less-than-perfect recordings. In that case it is their interpretation
and personality that matters: not the surface noise.
Boyd Neel’s name immediately caught
my attention on the track listing with his String Orchestra’s rendering of
Asger Hamerik’s Symphonie Spirituelle.
I was introduced to a number of
well-known pieces of British music by this orchestra on the old Decca Eclipse
label, so I have a soft spot for him. Add to that the fact that he did much to
bring then-contemporary English string music into the public domain and he is a
hero of mine. Hamerik’s work is the sixth of
seven symphonies (there is also an unnumbered symphony in C minor, op.3 (1860)
which is lost) and was composed in 1897. It was scored for a large string
orchestra. Rob
Barnett (MWI, November 2009) is right in suggesting that it recalls/foreshadows Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, Frank Bridge’s
Suite for Strings and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade
for Strings. It is a beautifully contrived work that is full of depth,
poetry and reflection. Nevertheless, I wonder if it just a wee bit long for its
own good. I know there are other
versions of this work currently available, but Boyd Neel’s 1945 recording will
satisfy me.
I listen to Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony about once a year. Reviewing this
CD makes it twice so far in 2015. There are currently 92 versions of this
masterpiece currently listed in the Arkiv catalogue so one cannot explore them
all. I have a preference for Antony Collins’ reading (another historical
recording to prove my rule!) and Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra on BIS. (BIS-CD-863)
Many years ago I bought another Decca Eclipse LP: this time of
Sibelius’s Karelia Suite and the gargantuan Fifth Symphony (ECS 502). It was my
introduction to the great Finn. Alas, some thirty years ago, I gave away/sold/lost
this album. I have not heard it since. Imagine my surprise when researching
this present CD I found that Danacord have presented this self-same recording (The
Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra conducted Erik Tuxen) on this release. The same applies to Thomas Jensen
conducting the DSBO in the ‘Karelia’ suite. It is fantastic to have them back
in my CD collection.
The second disc is devoted to a
number of ‘minor’ works. The opening overture by J.P.E. Hartmann was written
for the tragedy Hakon Jarl by Adam Oehlenschläger.
The liner notes describe it as a ‘Nordic’ tone poem that is full of tragedy and
foreboding. This is a most moving piece.
Erik Tuxen conducts the DBSO once
again in this 1953 recording of Johann Svendsen’s flamboyant Festival Polonaise: a definite crowd-pleaser
if ever these was one.
I am not a fan of Carl Nielsen,
but his Aladdin Suite, originally
written as incidental music, is enjoyable. So too is ‘The Cockerel’s Dance’
from Maskarade. Nothing very demanding: but quite fun.
Knudåge Riisager’s Introduction
to ‘Niels Ebbesen’ is filmic in its expansive and sweeping exposition. Svend
Erik Tarp’s enjoyable ‘Comedy’ Overture is one of those pieces of music
that is hard to define. Is it contemporary, pastiche or light? Who knows: but I
feel it is one of the best wrought pieces on this second CD.
There is a definite magic about
Emil Reesen’s Danish Rhapsody than seems inspire thoughts of Hans Christian
Andersen as well as something a little more romantic. It is based on folk songs gathered in Jutland.
We hear dancing, harvest-home songs and the poetry of a warm summer’s evening.
My favourite piece on this second
CD is the ‘Tango Jalousie’ by Jacob Gade – apparently no relation to the other
Gades of Danish music. This is one of those pieces that the listener seems to
have always known – definite end of the pier music. Sadly, it would appear to
be the only piece that is played from Gade’s catalogue.
The CD concludes with two fine
numbers by H.C. Lumbye, onetime maestro at the Tivoli Gardens. The Copenhagen Railway Steam-Galop
complete with a battery of locomotive sound effects is one of the best pieces
of ‘train’ music: I could listen to this over and over again. Its recording
date of 1933 does nothing to diminish the exuberance and sheer fun of this
piece of persiflage. The final work is
the equally exciting Champagne-Galop:
just the thing to conclude a visit to Copenhagen’s remarkable Tivoli Gardens,
although a glass of beer in the Nyhavn would also be a treat…
I was most impressed with the
sound restoration on this CD. Perhaps it just goes to prove how relatively good
recording technology was, especially in the post-war years. Danacord have
presented a packed programme which is exceptionally varied in its musical
explorations. The liner notes by Claus
Byrith are excellent and informative.
I guess that the highlight for me
is the above noted rediscovery of an old favourite recording of Sibelius 5.
However, there is plenty to enjoy, in the ‘lollipops’ in the second CD – especially
the Tango Jalousie and Lumbye’s train music A great collection of interesting
music that deserves our attention.
Disc 1 of 2
Asger HAMERIK (1843-1923)
Symphonie Spirituelle (1897)
Boyd Neel String Orchestra / Boyd Neel
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 5 (1915 rev. 1916, 1919)
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Erik Tuxen
Jean SIBELIUS Karelia-Suite
(1893)
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Thomas Jensen
Disc 2 of 2
J. P. E. HARTMANN (1805-1900)
Overture to ‘Hakon Jarl’ (1844)]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/John Frandsen
Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911) Festival Polonaise
(1873)
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/ Erik Tuxen
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Incidental Music to Aladdin (c.1919)
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Svend Christian Felumb
Carl NIELSEN Introduction
to [Scene] 7. The Mother (1920) [2:45]
Cockerel's Dance from Maskarade (1904-6)
[3:49]
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Jensen
Knudåge RIISAGER (1897-1974)
Introduction to ‘Niels Ebbesen’ (1948)
The Royal Orchestra/Johan Hye-Knudsen
Svend Erik TARP (1908-1994)
Comedy Overture (1942)
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Svend Christian Felumb
Emil REESEN (1887-1964)
Himmerland, Danish Rhapsody (1926)
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Emil Reesen
Jacob GADE (1879-1963)
Tango Jalousie (1925)
Wandy Tworek (violin) The Danish State Broadcasting
Orchestra/Emil Reesen
H. C. LUMBYE (1810-1874) Copenhagen Railway
Steam-Galop (1847)
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Andersen
H. C. LUMBYE Champagner-Galop (1845) ]
The Royal Orchestra/Georg Høeberg
DANACORD DACOCD
757-8 [Mono]
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