Magnificent
David A. Baer | Indianapolis, IN USA | 07/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's a reason why Edward Grieg appears on those off-market complilations of 'favorite all time romantic music' with the double exclamation points and tissue paper liners. For pure melody there is hardly a composer more attuned to the preferences of the modern ear.
Orchestras from Budapest, Vienna, and Berlin contribute to this back-alley anthology of some of the Norwegian composers most beloved (*there's* another adjective from late-night television advertisements!) pieces.
I am astonished that Grieg can sound so very, very good on the cheap.
A regular component on the playlist of my favorite satellite radio station signs off 'reminding you that *all* music was once *new* music'. This wry observation serves as apology for composers who are ahead of their would-be listeners' time and is a fair call for patience with music that may seem slightly jarring on the first three passes.
One wonders whether Grieg was every ahead of his listeners like that. I doubt it.
Simply, unequivocally superb."