Göteborgs Symfoniker & Neeme Järvi - Stenhammar: Sången, Reverenza & Romeo och Julia Suite (2018) [24/96]

The collaboration between Gothenburg Symphony, Neeme Järvi and BIS began in 1982 with the recording of Wilhelm Stenhammar’s First Symphony, originally released on vinyl and then re-released on CD in 1986. By that time, Neeme Järvi and the orchestra had already started on the many Sibelius recordings that would contribute to the team’s rise to fame. In total, the orchestra and Järvi would go on to record some 45 discs for BIS, including several with music by Stenhammar. It would however take until 2018 – 36 years after that first disc – before the opportunity arose to record that late, great work of his – the symphonic cantata Sången (The Song) for four vocal soloists, mixed choir, children’s choir and large orchestra.

Because of the large forces involved, Sången is a rarity in the concert hall as well as on disc – there has only been one previous commercial recording, made in 1988. As might be expected there was a sense of occasion in the Gothenburg Concert Hall during the concert and recording of this all-Stenhammar programme – a sense of occasion that audibly comes across in this present disc. Also included are the well-loved Two Sentimental Romances for violin and orchestra with the orchestra’s eminent leader Sara Trobäck as soloist and the rarely heard suite from the music to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

"The main event is Sången…If it’s possible to be too inspired, Stenhammar is here…The Two Sentimental Romances do what they say on the tin, with particular sweet-toned playing from concertmaster Sara Trobäck." (Gramophone Magazine Awards Issue)

Tracklist:
1. Romeo och Julia Suite, Op. 45 (Arr. H. Rosenberg for Orchestra) : I. Pastorale: Andante sostenuto 05:47
2. Romeo och Julia Suite, Op. 45 (Arr. H. Rosenberg for Orchestra) : II. Corrente: Allegretto grazioso 01:35
3. Romeo och Julia Suite, Op. 45 (Arr. H. Rosenberg for Orchestra) : III. Gavotte 03:50
4. Romeo och Julia Suite, Op. 45 (Arr. H. Rosenberg for Orchestra) : IV. Petters pipa: Tempo rubato 03:33
5. Romeo och Julia Suite, Op. 45 (Arr. H. Rosenberg for Orchestra) : V. Sarabanda: Andante tranquillo02:45
6. Serenade in F major, Op. 31 : II. Reverenza (original 1913 version) 06:09
7. Gammal fäbodpsalm från Dalarna (Arr. J. Johansson for Orchestra) : No. 1. Andantino 06:40
8. Gammal fäbodpsalm från Dalarna (Arr. J. Johansson for Orchestra) : No. 2. Allegro patetico 07:01
9. Sangen, Op. 44 : Part I: Min sång, mitt land, du mina sångers land! 14:12
10. Sangen, Op. 44 : Part II: Templet strålar. Rymder ljuda 15:33

Personnel:
Sara Trobäck, violin
Anders Jonhäll, flute
Mårten Larsson, oboe
Charlotta Larsson, soprano
Martina Dike, alto
Lars Cleveman, tenor
Fredrik Zetterström, baritone
Norrköping Music Classes Children's Choir
Gothenburg Symphony Chorus
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi, conductor