Finn Mortensen Symphony etc.

[BFerrell]

Simax will be releasing a new CD of Finn Mortensen's orchestral music, newly recorded by Mikkelsen, in January.

[Alan Howe]

This CD will be well worth pursuing, I should think. Excerpts are available here:
http://www.grappa.no/en/simax-classics/finn-mortensen-per-orchestra/

[petershott@btinternet.com]

I received my copy this morning from HMV (£8.99 post free which puts the competition in the shade).

First impression is that this new recording reveals so much more forcefully than the older recording by the Oslo PO / Mariss Jansons that this is rather a terrific piece! (Apologies - syntax gone to the bow wows!)

[Dundonnell]

I shall get my copy of the old Aurora cd down off the shelves and give it another listen

I have to say that I was a bit surprised that Simax should choose to do another version of the Mortensen when there are so many symphonies by other Norwegian composers awaiting a first recording. These include the Klaus Egge 5th and several by Ragnar Soderlind and Halvor Haug(two composers about whom I have written at some length here )

[Alan Howe]

Well, the old Aurora CD isn't all that great - the newcomer would appear to be greatly superior in terms of recording quality.

[Alan Howe]

...and greatly superior it seems to me to be. The engineering is spectacularly good, making the whole work much clearer - and, frankly, lending it even greater stature than the older recording. A must-buy for lovers of tough, but rewarding 20th century symphonies...