Hilding Rosenberg

[Daverz]

Yes. Yes! Yes!!! YES !!!!!! 

I saw this too.  I guess they changed their minds about doing some Rosenberg symphonies (or maybe it was just a whole cycle that got canceled.)  Good news in any case.  This does duplicate the contents of a Phono Suecia CD, but that CD didn't have very good sonics.

[The new erato]

I saw this too.  I guess they changed their minds about doing some Rosenberg symphonies (or maybe it was just a whole cycle that got canceled.)  Good news in any case.  This does duplicate the contents of a Phono Suecia CD, but that CD didn't have very good sonics.

Yes indeed and I have that disc. Let's hope this is just a start.

[vandermolen]

Yes. Yes! Yes!!! YES !!!!!! 

Very exciting news for us Rosenberg fans! Have just pre-ordered. Is this the start of a complete Rosenberg symphony cycle? I really hope so. Thanks for posting this.

[Lethevich]

Send your fanmail to bis - it's the only way to convince them

I'll probably get this CD too once marketplaces go down a little - Rosenberg seems like a composer I should enjoy...

[schweitzeralan]

Send your fanmail to bis - it's the only way to convince them

I'll probably get this CD too once marketplaces go down a little - Rosenberg seems like a composer I should enjoy...

The 3rd is my favorite, a superb work, as are all his symphonies.  Hilding was considered, I believe from what I had read years ago, the dean  of Swedish composers.

[vandermolen]

Yes. Yes! Yes!!! YES !!!!!! 

Have been listening to this CD with enormous pleasure. What wonderful works both these symphonies are - this CD is a fine place to start investigating this great composer. To be honest though, I thought that the performance of the visionary 'Sinfonia Semplice' (Symphony No 6) was a little underpowered and lacking in urgency compared with an earlier LP and CD manfestation conducted by the late Stig Westerberg on the Phono Suecia label (from a Vox Turnabout LP) - at times it sounded like a different work, but the recording is great and I am getting used to this alternative take on the Symphony. The performance of Symphony 3 (Rosenberg's greatest work?) is excellent in all respects and more than a match for earlier recordings by Blomstedt and Andrew Davis. The wonderfully redemptive conclusion is one of my favourite moments in classical music and this is the best performance of it (I had to play it again immediately).  Fans of Sibelius, Tubin, Nielsen and Holmboe should enjoy this music. Rosenberg has been left out in the cold for too long and I hope that this is the start of a complete cycle (although there is nothing in the CD notes to suggest that it is). The notes quote Rosenberg's remarks about a withdrawn early symphony - "My only and dearest wish is that it may provide faith and strength to my fellow wanderers, and for all those who suffer and find no meaning in life." This is powerful, deeply felt and inspiriting music - my favourite CD of the year so far.

[The new erato]

Doesn't matter what you think. The Hurwitzer found it bland and uninspiring.

[Lethevich]

Doesn't matter what you think. The Hurwitzer found it bland and uninspiring.

I guess it's time to throw all those bis CDs in the skip

[vandermolen]

Doesn't matter what you think. The Hurwitzer found it bland and uninspiring.

I'm curious. How does one access his review?

[The new erato]

I'm curious. How does one access his review?

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=12666

In that special, condescending tone that seems to be Hurwitz' raison d'etre.

[vandermolen]

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=12666

In that special, condescending tone that seems to be Hurwitz' raison d'etre.

Many thanks for the link - what a useless review! They could hardly have chosen someone less sympahetic to Rosenberg to do the review. Rather like Robert Layton's reviews of the Pettersson symphonies -"rampant self-pity etc". Also, I don't think that Rosenberg sounds anything like Hindemith. Personally I find that Rosenberg does write memorable tunes (Hurwitz does admit to moments of beauty in the scores). The only thing I agree with is the reference to the technical excellence of the recording.

[Daverz]

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=12666

In that special, condescending tone that seems to be Hurwitz' raison d'etre.

Especially considering how many stinker CDs he's given a "10/10".

[PaulR]

I've come across the name of the composer from this forum a while back, but never heard a note written by the composer.  Last week, I visited Academy Records in NYC and saw that they had set of the composer conducting his own works from the 1940s.  It was decently priced, so I took the chance.

Now listening to the CDs, I am glad I did.  So far, I have gotten a chance to listen to the 5th symphony, and the Violin concerto in whole.  As I am writing this, I am listening to Orpheus on the Town, and it is another piece I am impressed with.  I like how his melodies appear in different parts of the dance suite. 

It is interesting to hear the composer conducting his own works.  They are well performed, but being from the 1940s, the quality of the recording isn't that great.  But overall, I am happy with the purchase, and I am looking forward to exploring more of Rosenberg's music.

[DaveF]

Admirers of Rosenberg may be interested to know that the 5th symphony is to be broadcast on Swedish Radio this Tuesday (21st June) in the Klassisk förmiddag programme starting at 10.03 (9.03 British Summer Time).  The running order for the day is at http://sverigesradio.se/sida/tabla.aspx?programid=163&date=2011-06-21.  This is not the 1940s recording that paulrbass mentions (just about listenable to except in the 4th movement, where something has gone seriously wrong with the recording equipment) but a live performance from 1992 which a Swedish contact of mine rates highly.  The web page for the actual program offers a BBC-style "listen again" facility (the "Senaste sändningen" (latest broadcast) button in the "Lyssna" panel) although, because this programme is on every day, I guess you have to catch it within 24 hours.

DF

Edit - not so - someone on another forum where I was getting equally excited about this has told me that the "listen again" is available for 30 days.

[Raymond Clarke]

What a coincidence: here I am in my home in the middle of nowhere listening to Rosenberg's Fifth Symphony (the October 1944 recording on Caprice) and when I search the internet to find out more about the composer it turns out that someone else in the same little town as me knows about a 1992 performance.

Is there any internet access to this recording? I remember hearing a BBC Radio 3 studio broadcast of Richard Hickox conducting the work around 1982 (I think it may have been in honour of the composer's 90th birthday) and I hope that the BBC still has a tape of this somewhere. I remember that as being a magnificent performance.

[The new erato]

You will find a download of this radio performance if you register at the unsungcomposers site.

[Dundonnell]

Robert von Bahr dosen't like Rosenberg   Simple as.

[The new erato]

A new Rosenberg disc:

[cilgwyn]

You will find a download of this radio performance if you register at the unsungcomposers site.

For anyone browsing,who doesn't already know this information WAS correct at the time,but 'The Art Music Forum' is the 'place' to go,now! I have already downloaded some Rosenberg from there,myself!

[Daverz]

A Rosenberg discography:


http://www.ekelin.org/discography.html