Composer: Hugo Alfvén
Orchestra: Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Conductor: Łukasz Borowicz
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: CPO
Catalogue: 5552372
Release: 2019
Size: 314 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite, Op. 37
01. I. Sorcery
02. II. Dance of the Troll Girl
03. III. Summer Rain
04. IV. Dance of the Herdmaiden
Symphony No. 3 in E major, Op. 23
05. I. Allegro con brio
06. II Andante
07. III. Presto
08. IV. Allegro con brio
09. Swedish Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 24 ‘Uppsalarapsodi’
It was in 1905, an entire decade prior to Wilhelm Stenhammar’s second symphony, that Hugo Alfvén completed his third symphony. In this work Alfvén, like many other Scandinavian composers, found the typical Nordic tone of his music in the sunny south. Like Sibelius’ second symphony and Stenhammar’s Serenade for Orchestra, this symphony is Swedish through and through. In addition, it is pervaded by the longing for home repeatedly felt by Alfvén during his years of wandering. He composed his Uppsala Rhapsody in 1907 for the commemoration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great botanist Carl von Linné (Linnaeus) held at the University of Uppsala in May 1907. Like its counterpart by Johannes Brahms, this work turned out to be an »Academic Festival Overture« including some student songs. The Concert Suite from Alfvén’s ballet The Mountain King offers a masterful wealth of color. His excellent knowledge of the art of instrumentation was the product of his earlier activity as a violinist in the Royal Court Orchestra, which also served as the Opera Orchestra.
Mostly known outside of his country for his very popular Swedish Rhapsody No. 1 (Midsommarvaka), Hugo Alfvén is a multi-talented creator. An accomplished watercolourist (he had in fact considered becoming a full-time painter), and a gifted writer, he finally decided on pursuing a career in music. Born in Stockholm in 1872, this polyglot and avid traveller throughout Europe studied the violin in Brussels to join his hometown’s Royal Swedish Opera, before conducting choirs and orchestras across the continent. Alfvén became one of his country’s main composers, along with his contemporary Wilhelm Stenhammar. His music draws from late Romanticism, relying on skilled and colourful arrangements à la Richard Strauss. He is often considered as a figurehead of Swedish music, very much like Sibelius for Finland.
In fact, the very first measures of his orchestral suite The Mountain King (Bergakungen) are instantly reminiscent of Finlandia, with its spectacular crescendo opening the ballet scene. His Symphony No. 3, composed in 1905 during a trip to Italy − a country that invariably mesmerises Scandinavians − is a genuine ode to happiness. Dedicated to Marie, a young woman he loved passionately and who would become his first wife, this score is gentle, positive, joyful and simply celebrates the appreciation of being in the world.
The Swedish Rhapsody No. 2 (Uppsalarapsodi) was written for the 200th anniversary of the birth of famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, the father of biodiversity who identified over 10,000 plant and animal species. Like Brahms did a few years prior in his Academic Festival Overture, Alfvén uses numerous student songs in this joyful piece, tightly woven into the symphonic thread.