Search - Harald Saeverud, Alexander Dmitriev, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra :: Harald Sæverud, Vol. 4

I liked it - maybe someone else will too

Russ | Richmond, VA | 08/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Much of the output of the Norwegian composer Harald Sæverud (1897-1992) has been committed to disc by the enterprising BIS label. Composer of nine symphonies, several concertos and numerous other orchestral works, Sæverud was rather prolific. So, why isn't Sæverud better known? Well, I suspect that Sæverud's craggily complex orchestral texture and spinosely spun melodies may be a factor. The landscape of Norway definitely plays a profound role in Sæverud's compositions, and maybe in this regard you can consider him an anti-pastoralist, as it is the rough and jagged mountains of Norway that shapes Sæverud's music, as opposed to the rolling green fields and quaintly quiet forests that are so often depicted in the music of other twentieth century nationalists.



The present release contains Sæverud's ninth and final symphony. The symphony makes for a harsh, yet an overall enjoyable listening experience. Of particular interest is the waltz macabre threaded throughout the second movement and the strangely alluring dissonances heard in the final measures of the third movement. But best of all is the 'Bells in the Mountains' finale. The orchestration in this movement is so varied, and novel (the piano and the winds play a prominent role), that the listener seldom notices how thin the orchestral texture actually is. The symphony terrifyingly concludes with clanging chimes and the brass blaring a most unusual harmonic sequence. I think most adventuresome listeners will thoroughly enjoy this movement.



The piano concerto is also a rugged, yet interesting work. The opening theme has a menacing quality that brings to mind Prokofiev. The finale is energetic and playful - albeit in a bizarre, almost disturbing, sort of way. In this movement the melodic line incessantly surges ahead (listen for the tremendously tricky trumpet line towards the conclusion) until the innocently dancing piano solo is silenced by a harmonically harsh orchestral tutti. Sæverud's tendency to traverse an aberrant harmonic path with an otherwise innocuous melody is also heard in the gripping 'Fanfare & Hymn' which opens the program.



It should be mentioned that despite whatever one may think about this music, the playing by the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in uniformly excellent and is matched by BIS' superb sonics.



Again, this is not the easiest music on the ears, but there is not anything terribly offensive here either. In fact, from a melodic standpoint, much of this music is thoroughly enjoyable. I previously acquired Harald Sæverud: Cello Concerto; Symphony No. 8 based on the recommendation of another reviewer, and I find the material here to be much more accessible in comparison to the material on that release. So, if you enjoy exploring the little-known byways of classical music, I think you should give Sæverud a shot - and this disc gives a good overview of Sæverud's inimitable style.



Recommended.



TT: 60:59"