Grieg: Peer Gynt
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Performer: Peter MatteiComposer: Edvard Grieg
Conductor: Paavo J?rvi
Performer: Charlotte Hellekant
Orchestra: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
Performer: Belinda Camilla Tilling
Performer: Rain Vilu
Performer: Arvo Leibur
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2005-06-07
Music Label: Virgin Classics
Soundtracks:
- No. 1. Prelude to Act 1. I bryllupsg?rden (At the Wedding)
- No. 2. Halling
- No. 4. Prelude to Act 2. Bruderovet. Ingrids klage (The Abduction of the Bride. Ingrid's Lament)
- No. 6. Peer Gynt og Den gr?nnkledte (Peer Gynt and the Woman in Green)
- No. 7. Peer Gynt: "P? ridestellet skal storfolk kjendes!" ('You can tell great men by the style of
- No. 3. Springar
- No. 8. I Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)
- No. 9. Dans av Dovregubbens datter (Dance of the Mountain King's Daughter)
- No. 12. Prelude to Act 3. ?ses d?d (The Death of ?se)
- No. 13. Prelude to Act 4. Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)
- No. 15. Arabisk dans (Arabian Dance)
- No. 16. Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance)
- No. 17. Peer Gynts serenade (Peer Gynt's Serenade)
- No. 19. Solveigs sang (Solveig's Song)
- No. 20. Peer Gynt ved Memnonst?tten (Peer Gynt at the Statue of Memnon)
- No. 21. Prelude to Act 5. Peer Gynts hjemfart. Stormfull aften p? havet (Peer Gynt's Homecoming. St
- No. 22. Skipsforliset (The Shipwreck)
- No. 23. Solveig synger i hytten (Solveig sings in the hut)
- No. 25. Pinsesalme: "Velsignede morgen" (Whitsun Hymn: 'O Blessed Morning')
- No. 26. Solveigs vuggevise (Solveig's Cradle Song)
Music reviews of Grieg: Peer Gynt
Music Review: Top Peer Gynt Highlights; All But 5 Numbers
Rating: 5 Stars
This disc, though coy about the extent of its content, is indeed a highlight disc if a generous one (60'14"). Before discussing the performance, I will list which numbers are omitted from this recording:
Nos. 1-4: Included. The interpolated Wedding March orchestrated by Halvorsen (from Op. 19 piano pieces) is omitted, as it never was a part of what Grieg wrote for Peer Gynt.
No. 5: Omitted. Peer Gynt and the Herd Girls is a number where three girls sing grotesquely to Peer, who speaks between the sung portions.
Nos. 6-9: Included. For some reason No. 3, the viola number "Springar" is relocated to fit just before No. 8, In the Hall of the Mountain King. No explanation is provided in the notes.
No. 10: Omitted. Peer Gynt Haunted by the Trolls. Grieg paints a vivid if eerie picture with this piece. It is attached to: No. 11: Omitted. Peer Gynt and The Boyg, a so-so piece that is mostly dialogue over music. Its necessity in a Peer Gynt set is a matter of opinion.
Nos. 12-13: Included
No. 14: Omitted. The Thief and the Receiver is but a brief piece between two baritones.
Nos. 15-17: Included
No. 18: Omitted. Most of this Peer Gynt/Anitra number is Norwegian dialogue. Less than one minute is music.
Nos. 19-23: Included
No. 24: Omitted. The Night Scene includes some quiet music depicting night, Peer Gynt saying something in Norwegian, a chanting choir, and a speaker signifying the deceased Ase (Peer's mother). The best part is the last minute, where the quiet night music returns.
Nos. 25-26: Included
Quality of performance is consistently high. Paavo J?rvi competes with his father's recording here, giving an account equally (if not more) persuasive. He milks Peer Gynt for all it's worth with very pleasant results. The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra plays professionally, stimulating much pleasure for the listener. The choir is equally excellent, making the hymn near the end of the disc truly glorious in its beautiful simplicity.
The singers are all excellent. Peter Mattei's Peer Gynt (the Serenade, No. 17 only) is excellent, in my opinion quite ahead of Urban Malmberg on the Neeme J?rvi complete recording.
Camilla Tilling as Solveig has a pleasingly sweet soprano voice which works very well in this repertoire. She may not convey Solveig's progression of age perfectly, but she is extremely consistent and preferable to Barbara Bonney's interpretation if only on account of being less operatic.
Anitra's lusty performance in the Arabian Dance is commendable. Charlotte Hellekant's uncontrolled-sounding mezzo voice works very well for this piece.
The quality of sound is amazing. There's no other word for it.
Overall:
Music Selection - 4 Stars. Though very generous, a couple more numbers could have been fit on here (particularly Nos. 10 and 14).
Performance - 5 Stars. Only Beecham can be said to do any better.
Sound Quality - 5 Stars. If only all discs sounded as good as this one.
Documentation: 5 Stars. Detailed liner notes, a synopsis, and complete texts and translation of sung numbers are all included.
Price - 4 Stars. Though this disc retails at the normal $17, it often can be had for less directly from Amazon. (I bought it for a friend for $10.)
Bottom line: I would not be without this Grieg disc. Overall, it beats any other excerpt set I've ever listen to (even Beecham and Esa-Pekka Salonen). It gives an excellent alternative to a complete set.
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