Pettersson's Pavilion

[Maestro267]

I have this strange conflict, between being daunted by Nos. 9 & 13, and being curious about them and wanting to get the process of digesting them started as soon as possible, perhaps even before some of the (relatively and assumedly) "easier" symphonies.

[MusicTurner]

That 8th Symphony with Comissiona was also released on the Swedish Polar label - the one I have (photo below).
In that work, I like Thomas Sanderling and Comissiona the most, rather than Segerstam.
I don't recall if I've heard G. Albrecht's version.

The 9th Symphony with Comissiona is on you-tube, but it has been mentioned here before. It was the only LP release of that work.
Comissiona spends 85 minutes, about 15 minutes longer than the others, which obviously slows down the music a lot, and gives very different results, making it less violent and aggressive. It's a masterpiece, IMHO, and the later parts become hypnotic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO_SxlgDBf (maybe not always working)

I believe CD transfers are available somewhere on the web.

[vandermolen]

I have 2 copies of that one.  I think it's still my preferred No. 8.  Comissiona was a really fine champion of Mr. P's music.

+1 I also think highly of his CD of Symphony No.7, bizarrely coupled with Mozart!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

The 10th is one of the shorter ones, too,

That's probably one reason why I like it - it's not an endless rant like the 13th. To me it sounds somewhat like Mahler 5/ii with the soft parts ripped out and the loud ones extended to 25 minutes.

That 8th Symphony with Comissiona was also released on the Swedish Polar label - the one I have (photo below).

I suspect that's the reason it was never issued on CD - DG didn't have the rights to it.

[Mirror Image]

I've struggled with No.10 and No.9. Apart from symphonies 6-8 it is the VC No.2 which has had the greatest impact on me. Personally I consider it one of the best violin concertos ever written. I discovered all the above works on LP and like Mr Hurwitz was delighted and amazed to find a Pettersson symphony on a DGG LP when it was first released.
AP looks (slightly) more cheerful than usual in the photo:

Very cool, Jeffrey. What is your preferred performance of the Violin Concerto No. 2? There are several recordings now: Haendel/Blomstedt, Keulen/Dausgaard and Wallin/Lindberg.

[Mirror Image]

That's probably one reason why I like it - it's not an endless rant like the 13th. To me it sounds somewhat like Mahler 5/ii with the soft parts ripped out and the loud ones extended to 25 minutes.

That's an interesting description. I'll have to revisit this symphony.

[vandermolen]

Very cool, Jeffrey. What is your preferred performance of the Violin Concerto No. 2? There are several recordings now: Haendel/Blomstedt, Keulen/Dausgaard and Wallin/Lindberg.

Well John, I think that I remain loyal to the Ida Haendel/Blomstedt version which had such an impact on me when I discovered the (very nicely produced) LP. I also enjoy (if that's the right word!) the version released on CPO. The other day I discovered the BIS/Lindberg recording still in its cellophane wrapper - so I need to get round to that one.
How about you?

[71 dB]

Pettersson's 7th coupled with Mozart's Bassoon Concerto?    Now I have seen it all!  0:)

[Mirror Image]

Well John, I think that I remain loyal to the Ida Haendel/Blomstedt version which had such an impact on me when I discovered the (very nicely produced) LP. I also enjoy (if that's the right word!) the version released on CPO. The other day I discovered the BIS/Lindberg recording still in its cellophane wrapper - so I need to get round to that one.
How about you?

I seem to be rather partial to the Keulen/Dausgaard performance, but I should revisit this one and the Haendel/Blomstedt. I have the Wallin/Lindberg, too, but I have come to the conclusion that Linberg just doesn't make this music come alive like Segerstam has done for example.

[vandermolen]

Pettersson's 7th coupled with Mozart's Bassoon Concerto?    Now I have seen it all!  0:)

I wonder how many people bought that CD for the Mozart Bassoon Concerto!

[Mirror Image]

I wonder how many pool bought that CD for the Mozart Bassoon Concerto!

Hah! An interesting thought, Jeffrey.

[MusicTurner]

I'd guess that Pettersson's symphonies often have some quite busy bassoonists; he has some striking passages involving the lower winds, including the woodwinds, and seemed to like writing for them ...

[71 dB]

I wonder how many pool bought that CD for the Mozart Bassoon Concerto!

Yeah, I almost added that question to my post. Many fans of Mozart are wondering "Who the hell is this obscure Swede?" 

I'd guess that Pettersson's symphonies often have some quite busy bassoonists; he has some striking passages involving the lower winds, including the woodwinds, and seemed to like writing for them ...

Busy bassoonists playing Pettersson are busyynists. 

[vandermolen]

Yeah, I almost added that question to my post. Many fans of Mozart are wondering "Who the hell is this obscure Swede?" 

Busy bassoonists playing Pettersson are busyynists. 

Very nice! I've now corrected 'pool' to 'people' in my original post 

[MusicTurner]

Yeah, I almost added that question to my post. Many fans of Mozart are wondering "Who the hell is this obscure Swede?" 

Busy bassoonists playing Pettersson are busyynists. 

Yeah, Pettersson also means bassoon business ...

there's likewise one of the few chamber works, the Fugue in E, where the bassoon is one of 3 selected instruments, together with the oboe and the clarinet.

[Daverz]

I wonder how many people bought that CD for the Mozart Bassoon Concerto!

Like the Symphony, it's a live recording, and something goes wrong with the bassoonists reed (I'm guessing).  There are some odd quacking noises.

[71 dB]

Very nice! I've now corrected 'pool' to 'people' in my original post 

Strange. I didn't notice any typo in your post... 

there's likewise one of the few chamber works, the Fugue in E, where the bassoon is one of 3 selected instruments, together with the oboe and the clarinet.

Fugue for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon? Interesting! I may have to check it out.

[aukhawk]

The 9th Symphony with Comissiona is on you-tube, but it has been mentioned here before. It was the only LP release of that work.
Comissiona spends 85 minutes, about 15 minutes longer than the others, which obviously slows down the music a lot, and gives very different results, making it less violent and aggressive. It's a masterpiece, IMHO, and the later parts become hypnotic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO_SxlgDBf (maybe not always working)

I believe CD transfers are available somewhere on the web.

That 9th CD (2x) / FLAC / MP3 is available (greatly overpriced due to the 2x CD transfer) here:
http://klassichaus.us/Copied-Pettersson-Symphony-No--8.php



It's a needledrop (but needledrops can be very good and sometimes better than old tape sources).
A brief listen to some climaxes on my laptop (not on my main system) it sounds nice and clean, good stereo, but a bit rolled-off in the higher frequencies.

Warning: - that site is a bit of a mess around Pettersson - you'll note the above link appears to refer to the 8th.  Both symphonies are linked from this lister page:
http://klassichaus.us/Orchestral-Page-6.php
but if you click on the picture for No.9 it is crosslinked back to the purchase/download page for No.8.   
If you click on the blue files link for No.9 it takes you to the first link I posted above - from where you can indeed buy and download the correct recording.  To add insult to injury CD2 is then described as 'Symphony No.1 Part 2' when it is in fact (I hope!!) Symphony No.9 Part 2.      

[vandermolen]

Sad news for Pettersson fans. Her performance of the VC No.2 was an absolute revelation to me:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/01/ida-haendel-obituary
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[The new erato]

I have both. LP and CD. Bought a few Ida Handel discs in the 70ies. Wish there was a complete edition.