Pettersson's Pavilion

[lunar22]

Like many, I became a big Pettersson fan in my youth during his heyday around the late 70's early 80's. For me the core of the cycle has always been nos. 5 to 9 (although 9 is arguably overlong) and Kamu's 6th remains my favourite recording of this composer despite the technical limitations. Most of the other symphonies I only know patchily if at all and I've only inconsistently investigated the newer recordings such as the Lindberg. I'm not sure if he's someone whose time has somewhat passed? But I know of at least one composer, Steve Elcock, where Pettersson is the single most important influence in many of his symphonies so he obviously still has something powerful to communicate.

[foxandpeng]

Like many, I became a big Pettersson fan in my youth during his heyday around the late 70's early 80's. For me the core of the cycle has always been nos. 5 to 9 (although 9 is arguably overlong) and Kamu's 6th remains my favourite recording of this composer despite the technical limitations. Most of the other symphonies I only know patchily if at all and I've only inconsistently investigated the newer recordings such as the Lindberg. I'm not sure if he's someone whose time has somewhat passed? But I know of at least one composer, Steve Elcock, where Pettersson is the single most important influence in many of his symphonies so he obviously still has something powerful to communicate.

With you regarding Elcock's music. Big fan of that. I do still think that Pettersson has a great deal to offer, mind!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I'm not sure if he's someone whose time has somewhat passed? But I know of at least one composer, Steve Elcock, where Pettersson is the single most important influence in many of his symphonies so he obviously still has something powerful to communicate.

Christopher Rouse cited Pettersson as an influence, at least for his earlier symphonic work.

Much as I would love to hear one of AP's big symphonies live, the chance is vanishingly small. The only instance I know of a major American orchestra playing one of them was the performance of the 8th by the Chicago SO under Varuan Kojian, in 1982 (which BTW you can find on YouTube).

[vers la flamme]

^Sergiu Comissiona also famously recorded the 8th with the Baltimore SO back in the '60s or '70s. I would love to see a Pettersson symphony live but I'm afraid I might need to go to Scandanavia to do so.

The 5th has grown immensely in my estimation recently. I have often heard people say "I only like Pettersson's symphonies from 6 and up". I haven't heard the first four, but I think 5 is very much on par with 6, 7 and 8. I also heard the 15th for the first time yesterday and enjoyed it. I have yet to make any headway with No.9.

[Maestro267]

I think it's impossible to make headway with No. 9. You just endure it. Same with No. 13.

[vers la flamme]

I think it's impossible to make headway with No. 9. You just endure it. Same with No. 13.

My endurance is not yet up for the task then I'm afraid. It probably doesn't help that the recording I have is the longest one available (the Comissiona/Gothenburg).

[AnotherSpin]

When you listen to Allan Pettersson often and a lot, you start to see unexpected things. I was struck by the surprising similarities between some parts of the 9th symphony and Anthony Braxton's Ghost Trance Music recordings, such as Sextet (Istanbul) 1996 or the Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, etc.

[lunar22]

^Sergiu Comissiona also famously recorded the 8th with the Baltimore SO back in the '60s or '70s. I would love to see a Pettersson symphony live but I'm afraid I might need to go to Scandanavia to do so.

The 5th has grown immensely in my estimation recently. I have often heard people say "I only like Pettersson's symphonies from 6 and up". I haven't heard the first four, but I think 5 is very much on par with 6, 7 and 8. I also heard the 15th for the first time yesterday and enjoyed it. I have yet to make any headway with No.9.

I'm inclined to agree. Although I heard no. 5 in my first survey of the symphonies way back, it was only fairly recently that I really got to appreciate and bought this one (the Francis recording with no.16). Curiously with no.9, I used to find it easier than I do these days when I fear I'm less patient. Elcock, who as already mentioned is hugely influenced by Pettersson, has no time for 9 at all, yet like you, regards no.5 as among the greatest.

Incidentally, although i lived in Sweden for the best part of 2 years during his heyday, I never got to see a Pettersson symphony live either.

[CRCulver]

With BIS's sale to Apple last week, it looks like there will be no more physical releases from the label. Sadly, what that means is that the Lindberg Pettersson cycle will be unfinished, at least for those of us who were collecting the CD/SACD releases.

[relm1]

Christopher Rouse cited Pettersson as an influence, at least for his earlier symphonic work.

Much as I would love to hear one of AP's big symphonies live, the chance is vanishingly small. The only instance I know of a major American orchestra playing one of them was the performance of the 8th by the Chicago SO under Varuan Kojian, in 1982 (which BTW you can find on YouTube).

Rouse's Symphony No. 1 quotes Pettersson's No. 7. 

[DavidW]

With BIS's sale to Apple last week, it looks like there will be no more physical releases from the label. Sadly, what that means is that the Lindberg Pettersson cycle will be unfinished, at least for those of us who were collecting the CD/SACD releases.

But they're still releasing cds, with some coming out next month.  All the staff have been retained, and nothing in the announcement said that they would stop releasing physical products.  You might be right, but I think you're getting ahead of yourself.

[Maestro267]

Also they can still make new records even if they don't release them on outdated physical media.

[The new erato]

Records vs recordings. Different animals.

[CRCulver]

But they're still releasing cds, with some coming out next month.  All the staff have been retained, and nothing in the announcement said that they would stop releasing physical products.  You might be right, but I think you're getting ahead of yourself.

On fora where Robert von Bahr participates personally, he has conspicuously avoided answering the question posed by many about whether BIS will continue with physical releases. And not only does the BIS website no longer offer physical media for sale, it doesn't even mention that BIS has produced physical media; it simply directs people to Apple Classical and eClassical. All that retaining staff means, is that the label still has its own recording personnel; production of the physical media was outsourced to the remaining plants, after all.

Also they can still make new records even if they don't release them on outdated physical media.

CD and SACD have a big advantage: you get the physical artifact if you like having that in your home, but you can also rip the media to your own personal digital collection. (Lots of people fond of the SACD format own a hacked player that can rip the SACD's surround-sound layer.) Meanwhile, with the sale to Apple, future BIS surround-sound recordings may be DRM-encumbered.

[Zauberschloss]

On fora where Robert von Bahr participates personally, he has conspicuously avoided answering the question posed by many about whether BIS will continue with physical releases. And not only does the BIS website no longer offer physical media for sale, it doesn't even mention that BIS has produced physical media; it simply directs people to Apple Classical and eClassical. All that retaining staff means, is that the label still has its own recording personnel; production of the physical media was outsourced to the remaining plants, after all.

CD and SACD have a big advantage: you get the physical artifact if you like having that in your home, but you can also rip the media to your own personal digital collection. (Lots of people fond of the SACD format own a hacked player that can rip the SACD's surround-sound layer.) Meanwhile, with the sale to Apple, future BIS surround-sound recordings may be DRM-encumbered.

On what forum does he participate? The Pettersson BIS box was my single most anticipated box release.

[DavidW]

On fora where Robert von Bahr participates personally, he has conspicuously avoided answering the question posed by many about whether BIS will continue with physical releases.

I sadly have to take it back then... that does not sound good at all.