Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 ("Sinfonie sérieuse") & 2 ("Sinfonie capricieuse")

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Berwald was quite a character. Aside from being a composer, he operated a foot clinic in Berlin, and a sawmill in Sweden. In his youth, he knew Beethoven, and was on friendly terms with Mendelssohn, whose music his sometimes resembles. His curiosity about life in general carries over into his music, which is quirky, unpredictable, and full of harmonic and rhythmic surprises. His writing for orchestra is both delicate and effective, with an especially characterful use of woodwinds and brass that proclaims him as the first recognizable "Scandinavian" composer. He composed four symphonies, all of them worth a listen. If you're turned on by Mendelssohn or Schumann, then you'll love Berwald. These performances are excellent, and the price is unbeatable. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

I. Allegro Con Energia
II. Adagio Maestoso
III. Stretto
IV. Finale: Adagio. Allegro Molto
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai

Tracks:

I. Allegro Fuocoso
II. Adagio. Scherzo: Allegro Assai. Adagio
III. Final: Presto
I. Allegro Risoluto
II. Adagio
III. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
IV. Finale: Allegro Vivace

Album Description

Franz Berwald (1796-1868) and his music were largely forgotten until the late 20th century, when his works, especially his four symphonies, were revived with overwhelming success. After decades of almost total neglect, Berwald has come to be considered what one modern critic called "the most individual and significant musical personality Sweden has ever produced". Although Berwald used isolated features of Nordic folk music, he was more of a romantic nationalist and also differed clearly from his national contemporaries who deferred to Liszt and Wagner in matters of tonal idiom, form and structure. Conductor David Montgomery was the last pupil of the legendary conductor René Leibowitz. He made his debut in 1969 at the Schönberg Festival in Lyon. That same year, he began his work as Associate Conductor with the Santa Fe Opera. Numerous appearances as conductor and pianist in Europe and the United States followed. Montgomery's film debut took place at Columbia! Pictures as conductor in 1993, and behind the scenes as historical consultant for Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence.

Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 "Sinfonie sérieuse" & 4 "Sinfonie naive"

Average customer rating:

A nice recording, but not incredible

Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 "Sinfonie sérieuse" & 4 "Sinfonie naive"

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Symphony No. 9 / Overture in C
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra; Kossuth
A Swedish Serenade
Hindemith: Symphony 'Mathis der Maler'/Trauermusik/Symphonic Metamorphosis

ASIN: B00000E54X
Release Date: 1993-10-12

Customer Reviews:

A nice recording, but not incredible.......2003-05-16

Very nicely played by the SFS and well recorded by Decca/London, these symphonies receive a fairly lively but straightforward interpretation from Blomstedt. Not dull, but the performances never quite catch fire either.

Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 ("Sinfonie sérieuse") & 2 ("Sinfonie capricieuse")

Average customer rating:

Franz Who?

Berwald: Symphonies Nos. 1 ("Sinfonie sérieuse") & 2 ("Sinfonie capricieuse")

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Berwald: Symphonies No. 3 ("Sinfonie singulière") & 4; Piano Concerto in D Major
Franz Berwald: Tone Poems
Alfvén: The Prodigal Son Suite/Symphony No. 2
Amy Beach: "Gaelic" Symphony; Piano Concerto
Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

ASIN: B00000143O
Release Date: 1996-04-23

Tracks:

Overture To Estrella de Soria
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor, Sinfonie serieuse: Allegro con energia
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor, Sinfonie serieuse: Adagio maestoso
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor, Sinfonie serieuse: Stretto
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor, Sinfonie serieuse: Finale: Adagio - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Sinfonie capricieuse: Allegro
Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Sinfonie capricieuse: Andante
Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Sinfonie capricieuse: Finale: Allegro assai

Amazon.com

Berwald was quite a character. Aside from being a composer, he operated a foot clinic in Berlin, and a sawmill in Sweden. In his youth, he knew Beethoven, and was on friendly terms with Mendelssohn, whose music his sometimes resembles. His curiosity about life in general carries over into his music, which is quirky, unpredictable, and full of harmonic and rhythmic surprises. His writing for orchestra is both delicate and effective, with an especially characterful use of woodwinds and brass that proclaims him as the first recognizable "Scandinavian" composer. He composed four symphonies, all of them worth a listen. If you're turned on by Mendelssohn or Schumann, then you'll love Berwald. These performances are excellent, and the price is unbeatable. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Franz Who?.......2001-07-31

You're in for a major discovery if you buy this first-rate - but ridiculously inexpensive - disc of Swedish Romantic composer Franz Berwald's first two symphonies. (A companion disc contains symphonies 3 & 4). David Hurwitz brackets Berwald (1798-1869) with Schumann and Mendelssohn. True, and the melodic and coloristic influences of the two Germans are obvious enough. But the other major influence on Berwald was Berlioz whose music surely inspired the Swedish composer's wonderfully quirky textures and rhythms. Berwald was an early Romantic and his music is almost verdantly fresh: to my mind, it constantly evokes the dappled light and shade of a northern forest in midsummer. There aren't many major nineteenth century composers remaining to be discovered, and Berwald is still too little known outside Scandinavia. Back in the '50s and '60s, his music found international champions in conductors like Igor Markevitch and Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt. But even they failed to ignite the enthusiastic reception that audiences eventually gave to mavericks like Bruckner, Mahler and Nielsen. Berwald isn't as great a composer as those three; his symphonies never strive to reach the stars. But, as compensation, they completely avoid the heaviness and portentousness of much later Romantic music. All four are thoroughly lovely and a joy to hear. And at the Naxos price, you can afford to take a (very small) chance. Performances, by a fine Swedish orchestra and gifted Finnish conductor, are completely idiomatic and the digital sound is fabulous. (As a bonus, this disc also includes the overture to Berwald's opera "Estrella di Soria." The companion disc includes, besides symphonies 3 and 4, Berwald's delightful piano concerto.) Go for it!