Rued Langgaard: Symphony No. 1, Cliffside Pastorals

by Sakari Oramo, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Overview

Conductor Sakari Oramo seems to be emerging as a champion of composer Rued Langgaard, who died all but forgotten in 1952; Oramo recorded the second and sixth of Langgaard's 16 symphonies in 2018 and here, turns to the composer's Symphony No. 1 ("Klippepastoraler," or "Cliffside Pastorals") in this 2022 live recording. Langgaard began writing the symphony in 1908 when he was 14, and it is a gloriously overstuffed youthful work that Danish and Swedish orchestras pronounced unplayable before it was premiered in 1913 by the Berlin Philharmonic, the orchestra that performs it here. Langgaard was influenced by Wagner and more by Richard Strauss, whose dense orchestration is much in evidence here. One might cite Strauss' Alpensinfonie as a model for this work with its pictorial theme and its ringing high percussion parts, were it not for the fact that Langgaard's work preceded Strauss' by two years. The symphony does indeed pose challenges for the players, and even at more than a hundred years' distance, it is hard to imagine an orchestra that would do more justice to the over-the-top, bacchanalian finale than the Berlin Philharmonic. Bravo to Oramo for his advocacy of this unique and compelling composer. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2022
Label:	Dacapo / Dacapo
UPC:	0747313164462
Rank:	13670

Tracks

1. Symphony No. 1, Klippepastoraler (Cliffside Pastorals), BVN 32~I. Br¿¿ndinger og Solglimt (Surf and Glimpses of Sun)
2. Symphony No. 1, Klippepastoraler (Cliffside Pastorals), BVN 32~II. Fjeldblomster (Mountain Flowers)
3. Symphony No. 1, Klippepastoraler (Cliffside Pastorals), BVN 32~III. Sagn (Legend)
4. Symphony No. 1, Klippepastoraler (Cliffside Pastorals), BVN 32~IV. Opad Fjeldet (Mountain Ascent)
5. Symphony No. 1, Klippepastoraler (Cliffside Pastorals), BVN 32~V. Livsmod (Courage)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sakari Oramo   Primary Artist,Conductor
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Bendt Viinholt Nielsen   Critical Edition

Technical Credits

Preben Iwan   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Mastering,Recording Producer
Jens Cornelius   Liner Notes
Mats Engstrom   Recording Producer,Editing
Christoph Franke   Recording Producer
Hayden Jones   Proof Reading
Stephan Rabold   Photography
Colin Roth   Liner Note Translation
Jens Fink-Jensen   Proof Reading
Rued Langgaard   Composer