Hugo Alfvén’s music has always been close to the hearts of the Swedish people, and ranks among some of the most significant and representative of the spirit of the country. Alfvén is known as a cheerful entertainer in compositions such as Den förlorade sonen (‘The Prodigal Son’), but his symphonies reveal a different, more elegiac and often more dramatic side. The success of Alfvén’s symphonies fundamentally changed Sweden’s musical climate and, with a substantial collection of further orchestral music representing his gloriously rich and varied style, these recordings sweep us into the remarkable world of Scandinavian landscape and culture.
Works:
•Alfvén: Andante religioso from 'Revelation Cantata'
•Alfvén: Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite, Op. 37
•Alfvén: Den förlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son), Suite
•Alfvén: Elégie (At Emil Sjögren’s Funeral), Op. 38
•Alfvén: Elegy from 'Gustav II Adolf'
•Alfvén: En Bygdesaga (A Country Tale), Op. 53 (Suite from the music for the film Mans kvinna)
•Alfvén: En skärgårdssägen (A Legend of the Skerries), Op. 20
•Alfvén: Festival Overture, Op. 52
•Alfvén: Festspel
•Alfvén: Swedish Rhapsody No. 1, Op. 19 'Midsommarvaka'
•Alfvén: Swedish Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 24 'Uppsalarapsodi'
•Alfvén: Swedish Rhapsody No. 3, Op. 47 'Dalarapsodi'
•Alfvén: Symphonies Nos. 1-5
•Alfvén: Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 7
•Alfvén: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 11
•Alfvén: Symphony No. 3 in E major, Op. 23
•Alfvén: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 39 'Från havsbadet'
•Alfvén: Symphony No. 5 in A minor
•Alfvén: Synnøve Solbakken (Synnøve of Solbakken), Op. 50 (Suite from the music for the film)
•Larsson, L-E: Pastoral Suite, Op. 19
•Peterson-Berger: Frosoblomster (Froso-Flowers), Book 1, Op. 16
•Söderman: Svenskt Festspel
•Stenhammar: Interlude. Molto adagio, solenne (from Sangen, Op. 44)
•Wirén: Serenade for string orchestra, Op. 11: IV, Marcia