The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra´s new album ´Nordic Spring´ offers a poetic journey through the finest works composed by Nordic composers. Grieg´s Holberg Suite takes the lead in this exceptional selection followed by works by Nielsen, Svendsen, Sibelius, Bræin and Atterberg.
‘From Holberg’s time’ – a new landmark recording
Grieg´s Holberg Suite of 1884 was the composer’s tribute to Norwegian dramatist and author Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) for the bicentenary of his birth and it probably the work that is most closely associated with the NCO. The orchestra´s first recording of the piece in 1979 received international critical acclaim and has been regarded as one of the top reference recordings ever since. In this release, it is once again masterfully performed with new vigour and meticulous precision.
“Filled with the finest Nordic string music we know” – Terje Tønnsen
´Nordic Spring´ comprises of some of the finest of Nordic string music, a combination of internationally celebrated works and hidden gems that have rarely been performed or recorded. Edvard Grieg´s ‘Holberg Suite’ is followed by Kurt Atterberg´s ´Suite for violin, viola and string orchestra´, a work notable for its transcendent beauty and passion featuring Terje Tønnesen and Lars Anders Tomter as soloists. Tønnesen also performs a solo violin in Johan Svendsen´s masterpiece ‘Romance for violin and orchestra’. Another Nordic favorite, Carl Nielsen´s ´The Little Suite in A minor´ follows the programme. This was Nielsen´s first publish work premiered in 1888 and its innovative musical language hints the great symphonist he would later become.
This recording also marks the world premiere recording of the Norwegian composer Edvard Bræin´s ‘Serenade for viola and orchestra´ (1947) with Lars Anders Tomter as soloist. The album is completed with Jean Sibelius´ ´Valse triste´ which was originally part of the incidental music to the play ´Kuolema´ but was later revised into a separate concert piece.
