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 whoevers) 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 account 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 (try also
Lyrita REAM.1117) 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 listed in the Arkiv catalogue so one cannot explore them all. I
have a preference for
Anthony Collins’ reading — another
historical recording to prove my rule — and
Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra on BIS-CD-863 (
also reviewed here).
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.
See also.
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
that seems to inspire thoughts of Hans Christian Andersen as well as
something a little more romantic. It is based on folksongs 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, one-time 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.
John France
Reviews of earlier volumes in this series
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Contents
CD 1
Asger HAMERIK (1843-1923)
Symphonie
Spirituelle (1897) [29:07]
Boyd Neel String Orchestra/Boyd Neel
rec. 1945
Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957)
Symphony No. 5 (1915
rev. 1916, 1919) [30:27]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Erik Tuxen
rec. 1952
Karelia Suite (1893) [14:09]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Thomas Jensen
rec. 1952
CD 2
J. P. E. HARTMANN (1805-1900) Overture to
Hakon
Jarl (1844) [9:31]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/John Frandsen
rec. 1955
Johan SVENDSEN (1840-1911)
Festival
Polonaise (1873) [8:12]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Erik Tuxen
rec. 1953
Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Incidental Music to
Aladdin (c.1919) [16:24]
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Svend Christian Felumb
rec. 1936
Introduction to [Scene] 7.
The Mother (1920) [2:45]
Cockerel's Dance from
Maskarade (1904-6) [3:49]
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Jensen
rec. 1942
Knudåge RIISAGER (1897-1974)
Introduction to
Niels Ebbesen (1948) [4:35]
The Royal Orchestra/Johan Hye-Knudsen
rec. 1951
Svend Erik TARP (1908-1994)
Comedy Overture (1942) [5:50]
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Svend Christian Felumb
rec. 1948
Emil REESEN (1887-1964)
Himmerland, Danish Rhapsody (1926) [12:12]
The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Emil Reesen
rec. 1953
Jacob GADE (1879-1963)
Tango
Jalousie (1925) [3:22]
Wandy Tworek (violin) The Danish State Broadcasting Orchestra/Emil
Reesen
H. C. LUMBYE (1810-1874)
Copenhagen Railway Steam-Galop (1847) [3:10]
The Tivoli Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Andersen
rec. 1933
Champagner-Galop (1845) [2:04]
The Royal Orchestra/Georg Høeberg
rec. 1946
