"The" Grieg Disc
Joshua Grasso | Oxford, OH USA | 06/27/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a marvelous disc of Grieg's orchestral music; in fact, I might go so far as to say it is my favorite. The couplings are oustanding: the famous Piano Concerto, the slightly less well-known Symphonic Dances, and the totally neglected overture, In Autumn. Each pieces complements the other and charts the progression of Grieg's talent in a field (orchestral music) that was not his greatest strength. Nevertheless, these pieces constitute his greatest achivement in the medium (minus the Peer Gynt music), and make for spellbinding listening--especially when they're playing with such fire and commitment. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is on top form under Bjarte Engeset, who is fast becoming one of my favorite conductors. The sound quality is excellent, and every piece shimmers and glows with remarkable intensity. I have MANY versions of the Piano Concerto, but I've really fallen for Havard Gimse's version, which is both reflective and virile in all the right places. The orchestral contribution is remarkable. They make a wonderful case for In Autumn as well, a gem of an overture which should be played more widely; it has wonderful tunes and the distinct thumbprint of Grieg throughout. Yet perhaps the true highlight of the disc is the Symphonic Dances, which blow away any other version I've ever encountered. This is the first version that made the dances seem truly "symphonic," instead of a lose string of lightweight melodies. The entire piece coheres beautifully, and I was completely blown away by the final dance, with its En Saga-ish echoes. Luckily, this disc is entitled "Grieg Edition 1." I anxiously await the next volume! Again, this shows why Naxos is one of the most happening labels on the classical scene. Thanks for making me reevaluate Grieg's contribution to classical music. My only criticism is the double cover. The disc itself has a magnificent painting by Nikolai Astrup which complements the music beauitfully. So why the slip cover with the romantic Scandinavian landscape? Is this a marketing ploy? It's a waste of cardboard..."
Fascinating Program, but Unsatisfactory Balance
Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 02/10/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907): Concert Overture "In Autumn", Op. 11; Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16; Symphonic Dances, Op. 64. Performed by Havard Gimse, piano, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, directed by Bjarte Engeset. Recorded at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, in May 2003. Published in 2004 as Naxos 8.557279 and also available as a DVD-Audio or as a hybrid SACD. Total playing time: 71'47".
I'm afraid I have to disagree with the other review currently on the site: although this is a fascinating program, it left me a little disappointed. Of the three pieces on the disc, it was the "Symphonic Dances" which I liked best. This is one of Grieg's later works, written just nine years before his death, and Bjarte Engeset does well to perform it as a whole (Grieg having almost written a symphony), rather than just emphasizing the dance characteristics of the individual movements. The famous "Piano Concerto" (this recording appears to replace the earlier Naxos offering by Jenö Jandó and a Hungarian orchestra) comes over as laid-back and lyrical, somewhat belying the insistence of the notes on Grieg's youthful "wildness". Although I am sure that Havard Gimse, whose concert grand is placed firmly in the foreground, makes an excellent job of this, I found myself missing some of the excitement generated by the Jandó. And with the Concert Overture "In Autumn", the piece which opens the program, I felt that this youthful attempt at capturing Norwegian nature was, despite some captivating moments, rather too diffuse to be more than an "hors d'oeuvre" for the other two better-known works.
Having said that, the performance would have been worth four stars if it had not been for the Naxos sound engineering, which, while a great deal better than the Slovakian attempts at Grieg that Naxos published 15 years earlier, was anything but convincing. After listening to the CD all the way through, I felt I had to test my equipment to make sure the problem was with the CD and not with the speakers! The large empty hall and the size of the orchestra seemed to prevent the engineer from getting an integrated sound, with the balance between the instruments unsatisfactory and a two-dimensional characteristic which tended to concentrate attention on the right-side speaker. And yes, my equipment was in good shape, when I put a disc from a major label on, everything clicked back into perfect balance.
Of course, I have no idea how the DSD recording of this performance sounds, which you can purchase on DVD-Audio or SACD. But the CD has its obvious weaknesses."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1