Search - Johan Svendsen, Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra :: Johan Svendsen: The Two Symphonies

A Hidden Jewel

rick@ricksreviews. | Oregon, USA | 06/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finding hidden treasures or pieces from more now forgotten obscure composers (finding the jewel where few don't look) is a pleasure of mine. As I have written before, sometimes this doesn't turn out right and you realize why some composers and music are forgotten, but when you find something good that a lot of people don't know about, it's an inner thrill.Well this time I found such a jewel in this is the late 19th-century Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen and his first symphony and parts of the second symphony. A contemporary and friend of Edvard Grieg, Svendsen's work was praised by Grieg who reportedly envied his symphonic writing, which Grieg didn't seem to master.A BIS CD released in 1987, "Johan Svendsen - The Two Symphonies" with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neemi Jarvi is still available and contains the first and second symphonies. The first symphony strikes one as dynamic original music with a regular beat and in places almost reminded me of marches at least in the first movement. The slow movement was beautiful and unique to the point of my son and myself breathing, "wow!" as we were listening. The last movement from its beginning has an expansive touch and ends with a driving finale.The second symphony, written sometime after the first symphony, was written in Svendsen's student days, opens with a Tchaikovsky-esque theme which I think is quite tuneful. I don't think the rest of the symphony quite measures up except for a good coda in the finale. But this first symphony is a killer - a unique dynamic symphony."