Edward Gardener; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Beate Mordal; Jeremy Carpenter
Release Date: 24 February 2023
Label: Lawo
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 7090020182728
Genres: Classical Orchestral
Description
Arne Nordheim was Norway's most significant and respected composer until his death in 2010, and one of the few figures in contemporary western music who proved himself able to move beyond traditional harmonic relationships while maintaining a distinct ability to communicate widely through his striking, physical music.
The Bergen Philharmonic has been far from immune to that music's power, championing it throughout the composer's lifetime and premiering his first orchestral work, Canzona, as well as his last, Fonos. It has given multiple performances of Nordheim's orchestral works and has recorded Tenebrae (Cello Concerto), Aurora and Wirklicher Wald. In 1992, Nordheim was the subject of a special focus at the Bergen International Festival, where the orchestra premiered Magic Island – a revised version of Be Not Afeard (the starting point for The Tempest).
Chief Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic, Edward Gardner, has led the orchestra on multiple international tours. He is also Principal Conductor for the London Philharmonic Orchestra (from 2021) and takes over as Music Director at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in 2024.
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, a Norwegian national orchestra, dates back to 1765. Edvard Grieg served as its artistic director from 1880 to 1882. Edward Gardner is Chief Conductor and Sir Mark Elder is the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor. The Orchestra was nominated Orchestra of the Year 2020 by Gramophone and won two Gramophone Classical Music Awards in 2021: Recording of the Year and Opera Award Winner for Britten's Peter Grimes.
"With its many instrumental solos, especially trombone, cello and viola […] the work sounds as rich as an orchestral concerto at times. […] the final section of the suite is compelling, magical and gorgeously written. […] A marvellous recording, I urge everyone to buy this and be enraptured." – Gramophone
"As Beate Mordal, Jeremy Carpenter and the Bergen Philharmonic reveal in this vivid performance conducted by Edward Gardner, the score is a whirlwind of colour and invention." – BBC Music Magazine (Performance 4 STARS; Recording 4 STARS)
"The music is most finely performed under the baton of Gardner who here takes an unaccustomed step out with Lawo. It's also prominently recorded. The listener is treated to a completely plausible perspective not lacking in telling impact, whether quiet or loud." – MusicWeb International
"Friends of complex contemporary music should take great pleasure in the almost 50 minutes. With this relatively short playing time, however, Nordheim's suite remains quite accessible to others who are interested." – Pizzicato.lu
"The suite from Arne Nordheim's ballet The Tempest is beautifully performed by Edward Gardner and his Bergen PO." – Gramophone Recordings of the Year / Editor's Choice May 2023
Tracklisting
Engegard Quartet, NyNorsk Messingkvintett
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Peter Szilvay, Aage Richard Meyer, Cam Kjoll, Ruth Potter
Ssens Trio
Torleif Thedee & Marianna Shirinyan
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Berit Norbakken & Solmund Nystabakk
Magnus Boye Hansen, Mathias Halvorsen
Tine Thing Helseth, tenThing Brass Ensemble
Edward Gardener; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Beate Mordal; Jeremy Carpenter
