Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974)

[lescamil]

the piano concerto I don't yet know.

This must be fixed, since the piano concerto is the best of the lot. I've raved about it tons, as you might have seen before. All Atterberg tryer-outers must hear this, in addition to what others have recommended.

[mahler10th]

Good news for Atterberg fans from Dave Martin @ Chandos Records...

Dear Dave,
When are subsequent releases of Neeme Jarvi's Atterberg cycle going to be released.  I'm getting fed up waiting for it!  :-(
John Copeland

Response withion 9 hours: 

Dave Martin
To Me
Nov 26 at 9:03 AM
Dear John
You won't have to wait much longer, Vol 2 will be released in February
Best regards
Dave Martin

[vandermolen]

Absolutely terrific CD and probably best entry point into Atterberg's music. The Second Symphony is given a much more epic performance and far superior recording to any other version I know and the slow movement of Symphony 8 is my favourite movement in all Atterberg (I bet that once you've heard the tune you won't forget it).
[asin]B00HFEBXHI[/asin]

[relm1]

You don't find the Atterberg No. 2 too rushed?  The timings seem extremely fast but does it translate that way on the recording or is not really so noticed?  I sort of prefer this music to take its time and breath however based on your comment, will probably pick this recording up.

[vandermolen]

You don't find the Atterberg No. 2 too rushed?  The timings seem extremely fast but does it translate that way on the recording or is not really so noticed?  I sort of prefer this music to take its time and breath however based on your comment, will probably pick this recording up.

No, I really enjoyed the sense of urgency about the performance, which didn't sound rushed to me.

[Brian]

You don't find the Atterberg No. 2 too rushed?  The timings seem extremely fast but does it translate that way on the recording or is not really so noticed?  I sort of prefer this music to take its time and breath however based on your comment, will probably pick this recording up.

I am not familiar with Symphony No. 2 (or No. 9; I have never heard the Ninth and have only heard the Second once). That said, I am disturbed and displeased with Jarvi's speed-demon nature so far in this cycle. I actually thought Rasilainen was occasionally too fast - silly me! Jarvi chugged through No. 6 like an express train; at the moment I'm listening to No. 8 and its gorgeous adagio has been trivialized, from one of the great slow movements to a collection of cutesy folk tunes.

In general, Neeme Jarvi is a puzzle to me because he is such an advocate for little-known music - but much of the time a very poor advocate. In this case, he seems to believe in Atterberg, but to believe in Atterberg as a rather one-dimensional composer.

Great sound and excellent playing, but I'm sad at the prospect that this series could actually lose Atterberg fans rather than add them, by convincing listeners that he was "just a folk composer."

[Sergeant Rock]

I am disturbed and displeased with Jarvi's speed-demon nature so far in this cycle.

I really enjoyed the sense of urgency about the performance, which didn't sound rushed to me.

Because I like Järvi's first volume (4 & 6), purchasing the second was a no-brainer. That his tempos are radically different than Rasilainen's in the Second Symphony is, I think, a good thing. I appreciate the opportunity to hear the music played with "a sense of urgency."

                   Symphony #4                Symphony #6

Rasilainen 5:49  8:11  1:20  5:43      9:08   12:58  9:00       
Järvi         5:46  7:10  1:23  5:37      8:52    9:47  8:20
Hirokami                                        10:00  13:18  8:20   



                 Symphony #2                 Symphony #8

Rasilainen 12:51  15:55  12:11       9:03  9:55  5:15  9:18
Järvi         10:06  11:26   9:46        9:00  7:04  5:30  7:56


Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Do I see a second movement running less than 90"?

[Sergeant Rock]

Do I see a second movement running less than 90"?

Yes, the Scherzo of the "Sinfonia piccola" is quite short.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

Suits the name, of course   Well, my curiosity is piqued . . . I may just dip my musical toe into the Atterbergsee . . . .

[Sergeant Rock]

Suits the name, of course   Well, my curiosity is piqued . . . I may just dip my musical toe into the Atterbergsee . . . .

Go for it, Karl. The "piccola" is a good place to start an Atterberg exploration. It's the size of a Haydn symphony and packed full of great things.

Sarge

[mahler10th]

Absolutely terrific CD and probably best entry point into Atterberg's music. The Second Symphony is given a much more epic performance and far superior recording to any other version I know and the slow movement of Symphony 8 is my favourite movement in all Atterberg (I bet that once you've heard the tune you won't forget it).
[asin]B00HFEBXHI[/asin]

Yep, picked this up at the beginning of this month (Feb 2014).  Reading the above stuff, I completely agree with Brian who says...

...I am disturbed and displeased with Jarvi's speed-demon nature so far in this cycle....Jarvi chugged through No. 6 like an express train; at the moment I'm listening to No. 8 and its gorgeous adagio has been trivialized, from one of the great slow movements to a collection of cutesy folk tunes.

Great sound and excellent playing, but I'm sad at the prospect that this series could actually lose Atterberg fans rather than add them, by convincing listeners that he was "just a folk composer."

Jarvis interpretations are as fast as hell bearing no craftsmanship of the Atterberg sound.  I wouldn't recommend his Atterberg to anyone, especially not an Atterberg newbie.  However, it is still Atterberg, it is still the music, and I will complete the Jarvi collection as it is released.

Sarge says about timings:

Sarge:  Hirokami... 10:00  13:18  8:20

I do not have this Sarge, you have reminded me, so I have just ordered it and will report back soon.

[relm1]

I broke down and bought the Neeme Jarvi volume 2.  I am a picky listener so hopefully this doesn't cross into nitpicks.  The orchestral playing is not the highest quality.  Some of the articulations are sloppy and sections are not always together as a great orchestra like Gothenburg Symphony is.  I have a feeling the recording was rushed.  Something like rehearse it once, record it, fix one or two things, move on.  I have no evidence on this, but it is just the feeling.  In general, I am in agreement with others that the recorded sound is great, performance pretty good, but the unidiomatic urgency misses the important atmosphere that Atterberg's music generates.  This music really needs time to breath.  Maybe they are just too worried about listeners changing the channels if not giving them excitement every second but its at the cost of evocative restraint and clarity.  I actually prefer the Stig Westerberg oldie but that is perhaps because it was my first encounter with the composer and really made an impression on me because it was recorded with the composer's involvement.  Even though Stig Westerberg takes about 39 minutes compared to Jarvi's 31 minutes, the Westerberg doesn't drag - it still has a big sense of structure and clarity between sections plus a huge excitement in the climaxes.

I believe No. 8 fairs better but I can't think Jarvi likes this music.  Jarvi's Symphony No. 8 is better for me perhaps because the tempos are more appropriate to the material.  The brass really sounds great here especially at the end of the first movement...clean and tight.  The Adagio is very beautiful and balanced in the solo moments in the middle of that movement.

[Mirror Image]

I see the CPO set still remains unsurpassed. No surprise there.

[mahler10th]

Response from an email to Chandos about future releases of Atterberg by Jarvi:

Dear Mr Copeland
Thank you for your enquiry. Volume 3 is scheduled for release in June, and Volume 4 in October.
Best regards
Dean Austin
Accountant
Chandos Records Limited

What a strange release schedule.  February '13 and February '14 for 1 and 2, and now the above dates for the remaining volumes....

[vandermolen]

Response from an email to Chandos about future releases of Atterberg by Jarvi:

Dear Mr Copeland
Thank you for your enquiry. Volume 3 is scheduled for release in June, and Volume 4 in October.
Best regards
Dean Austin
Accountant
Chandos Records Limited

What a strange release schedule.  February '13 and February '14 for 1 and 2, and now the above dates for the remaining volumes....

Thanks John. Any idea on the content of the discs?

[vandermolen]

Response from an email to Chandos about future releases of Atterberg by Jarvi:

Dear Mr Copeland
Thank you for your enquiry. Volume 3 is scheduled for release in June, and Volume 4 in October.
Best regards
Dean Austin
Accountant
Chandos Records Limited

What a strange release schedule.  February '13 and February '14 for 1 and 2, and now the above dates for the remaining volumes....

I hope that the great 'Sinfonia Funebre' (No. 5) is next!

[vandermolen]

I hope that the great 'Sinfonia Funebre' (No. 5) is next!

It is  :
[asin]B00WFMVLIQ[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

I read the other day that Chandos had put their Rufinatscha series "on hold". I decided then & there to buy a copy from the Chandos website to try and help persuade them to continue the series. As if my order is going to make a difference;but you know what they say? Every penny counts! As to whether I'm convinced by Rufinatscha? Well,I've been listening to Bruckner,and...........well,it's pleasant enough and I like intriguing puzzles!! And to me,whether you are convinced or not,these kind of off-the-beaten track releases are what record collecting,and latterly,cd collecting,is all about!
Which leads me to the subject of this thread. The only Atterberg I have ever heard was an off air tape of his celebrated "Dollar" symphony. Well,for a long time it was the most well known one,anyway. At any rate,I checked the box with my order,for Chandos's free monthly sampler cd,and,unsurprisingly, there are excerpts of the new Atterberg release on the cd. Now,having vowed not to buy anymore cd's until my birthday,at the earliest (July) I am wondering whether I should risk all the temptation this could create and play those Atterberg sampler tracks?!! Only yesterday,I finally succumbed to temptation and downloaded the Naxos restoration of the 1955 (I think?) recording of Purcell's The Fairy Queen by Anthony Lewis. I have been curious about this recording for years. It was,as far as I know,the first complete recording,it's considered to be very good for it's era,it has never been released on cd,and I'm partial to those old singers. What could be the harm? And the performance is very enjoyable,indeed (Come on Decca Eloquence,give us a reissue!) Even Peter Pears is pretty good! But what happened? Later on that evening I've ordered cd's of Lewis's recordings of Dido and Aeneas and King Arthur which is coupled on the out of print Decca recording,with The Indian Queen conducted by Mackerras!

If I listen to these Atterberg samples will the postman be knocking on the door with the Cpo boxed set of his complete symphonies?!!

[cilgwyn]

Of course,that means the Chandos carrot won't really have worked.....but I'll still have broken my vow on an expensive box set!!