Jpc in Germany are announcing a January (4th) release date for Ole Olsen's Symphony in G major of 1878, Op.5. The performers are the Latvian National SO under Terje Mikkelsen, as on the CD of Alnaes symphonies. As this is a wonderful orchestra, we can expect another hit from Sterling! Happy New Year, Bo!
Hello Alan,
Is Ole Olsson related to Otto Olsson whose Symphony in G minor Op11 is recorded by Sterling ? (CDS 1020-2)
On the subject of Scandanavian music, do you know if the Symphony (1861-62) of Norwegian composer Otto Winter-Hjelm (1837-1931) has ever been recorded ?
This symphony precedes the symphonies of Svendsen. Also the two symphonies of Catharinus Elling.(1858-1942) ?
Thank you.
The two composers' names are spelt differently: Ole Olsen and Otto Olsson.
I have a cassette transfer of Winter-Hjelm's 2nd Symphony of 1863, so it must have been on LP at some time (Bergen PO/Kjell Ingebretsen).
I have Elling's VC and String Quartet on CD, but nothing else of his.
Quote from: Marcus on Saturday 19 December 2009, 13:10
Hello Alan,
Is Ole Olsson related to Otto Olsson whose Symphony in G minor Op11 is recorded by Sterling ? (CDS 1020-2)
On the subject of Scandanavian music, do you know if the Symphony (1861-62) of Norwegian composer Otto Winter-Hjelm (1837-1931) has ever been recorded ?
This symphony precedes the symphonies of Svendsen. Also the two symphonies of Catharinus Elling.(1858-1942) ?
Thank you.
As I understand it, only Winter-Hjelms 2nd symphony has been recorded. It's on an Lp from the 1980:ies, sponsored by the Norwegian Council of Culture.
Otto Olsson was an organist in Stockholm. He mainly wrote church music and organ works, but also some chamber music, a symphony and a piece for piano and orchestra. The last two have been recorded by Sterling. The symphony is a youthful work, a bit overambitious, but with many qualities. The slow movement is especially beautiful, with a sort of never-ending theme.
It is a bit sad that Sterling chose to record the suite for string orchestra, since it's already available on a CD from another small Swedish label, Intim Musik. Still, it's a most welcome release!
I understand that the couplings of the latest Olsson CD were influenced by a Norwegian arts foundation which provided some financial support to Sterling for the project.
Ahem.....Olsen......
Mea culpa...
Dunno the Latin for 'no problem'; nor the Swedish... ;)
This turns out to be a thoroughly likeable, tuneful, well-orchestrated symphony, very well played by the Latvian NSO and excellently recorded. No, it's not a forgotten masterpiece, but it throws a fascinating light on the development of the symphony in Scandinavia in the 1870s. The high point of the work is undoubtedly the slow movement, which sounds almost like an operatic intermezzo in places - very beautiful indeed.
Whilst the Symphony is attractive, if not ground-breaking, and the symphonic poem Asgaardsreien is colourfully dramatic, for me the work on the CD which has real individuality is the late Suite for Strings. It's certainly charming, but some of its seven short movements also hint at hidden depths in the same way that a few of Grieg's best works do.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Thursday 14 January 2010, 17:46
This turns out to be a thoroughly likeable, tuneful, well-orchestrated symphony, very well played by the Latvian NSO and excellently recorded. No, it's not a forgotten masterpiece, but it throws a fascinating light on the development of the symphony in Scandinavia in the 1870s. The high point of the work is undoubtedly the slow movement, which sounds almost like an operatic intermezzo in places - very beautiful indeed.
Finally the Olsen CD has arrived, and I can only say that I fully agree with the analyses of Alan and Mark. Apparently, there is also a CD coming up within the next months with symphonies by fellow Norwegian composer Johannes Haarklou from the same forces. Something to look forward to! :)
By the way, if you like the Alnaes and Olsen CD:s, you might also want to try Sigurd Lie's symphony. It´s on a CD from a small Norwegian label named 2L.
And just to add to the mayhem, neither Ole or Otto is to be confused with Poul Olsen - a Danish composer who died in 1982, and who wrote a short 'interesting' (i.e. make up your own minds) opera 'Belisa', after the play by Lorca.
Incidentally a thumbs up for Otto Olsson who has a rather fine and beautiful Requiem written just after the symphony in 1901. A good recording exists on Proprius.
Any more Olsens or Olssons? As one of my more ignominious students once memorably put it, "All these continental johnnies sound pretty much alike".
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1532421.php/Olsen-twins-didn-t-want-to-front-their-own-clothing-line (http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1532421.php/Olsen-twins-didn-t-want-to-front-their-own-clothing-line)
:)
David
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
HaHaHaHaHaHoHoHoHoHeeHeeHeeHee!!!!!!!!!
So that's what he was doing before 'Hellzapoppin'?
By the way,if you want a good laugh, after listening to his symphony,you can see a clip of him on 'you tube with his mate Chic Johnson!!!!!!
Deeply grateful to edurban for his painstaking research on the Olsen Sisters.
I guess it is no less than Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen who so memorably recorded the piano duet version of John Taverner's 'The Celestial Sigh: Variations on a Languorous Episode' [transcribed for Euphonium and Byzantine Xylophone] on the now defunct EMI label?
Ahem, gentlemen. Just an observation that we are in danger of losing the thread entirely here...
Someone mentioned the Winter-Hjelm 2nd; was this ever reissued on CD? A local station played this work from time to time fairly recently, I think. Enjoyable.
Eric
No, I don't believe that it was, Eric. Odd that I was listening to my LP transfer only the other day. Not that it's a great cornerstone of even the Scandinavian symphonic repertoire. A tuneful, but rather naive work.
If someone of you have been waiting for the Haarklou CD that I mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm afraid I must disappoint you. Apparently, Sterling had to drop this project. :(
Rats! I was looking forward to hearing Haarklou...
Quote from: eschiss1 on Tuesday 09 March 2010, 17:19Someone mentioned the Winter-Hjelm 2nd; was this ever reissued on CD? A local station played this work from time to time fairly recently, I think. Enjoyable.
It has also been broadcast by the BBC, probably from the LP release, which was NKF 30058. If you can play an LP, then you might consider searching for a second hand copy. There appears to be one on offer in Toronto. Apparently this LP also has Thomas Tellefsen's Piano Concerto No. 1.
Quote from: Syrelius on Wednesday 19 January 2011, 07:05
If someone of you have been waiting for the Haarklou CD that I mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm afraid I must disappoint you. Apparently, Sterling had to drop this project. :(
What a pity! From what I've read in official documents, this recording project received the same amount of economical support from the Norwegian Arts' Council as the Alnæs and Olsen-projects. I guess Haarklou has to wait a bit more then..
Morten
If anyone is still looking for the Winter-Hjelm Second Symphony, I have a copy of it on four mp3 files. I'll be happy to email it to you.
I understand, Morten, that Sterling's Haarklou project has indeed foundered for reasons which might best be described as "artistic differences".
Friend 'Dafrieze',
In response to your kind offer about mp3 files, I would very much llike to hear the Winter-Hjelm work. I tried to buy this from the NKF organisation last year (along with some other 'rareties' they still have avaialible) but was informed by them that the LP had never been transcribed to CD (alas!)
I'm not sure about protocol but my e-mail address is as follows:
richardamoss@lineone.net
Many thanks in advance
Richard Moss
BIS released the same Symphony as Symphony No. 1 yet wiki only mentions one. IS there a 2nd?
hrm-- well, there's the 2 organ symphonies. Maybe only one orchestral symphony, though.