Peer Gynt Suggestions

[Todd]

Okay, here's a work I do enjoy, but at present I have but one version of what strikes me as not world-class quality: Jerzy Maksymiuk's recording on Naxos.  It's not terrible, mind you, but I think others may offer more.  I'd prefer a modern recording in the best possible sound, though performance ultimately trumps all.  I think I'd prefer to stick to the suites, too.  I keep telling myself I'll listen to more Grieg, so I might as well try here.  Any suggestions?

[M forever]

It's not like I have listened to a lot of alternative versions, but I find Blomstedt's two recordings (SD and SFS) very good and both are very well recorded, too. Of course, the SD has much more sound, but the slender sound of the SFS on the later recording is attractive in its own way, too. I don't think either versions are totally complete though. There is a recording with Järvi/GSO on DG which I heard many moons ago and found quite good, but I don't remember it specifically enough to really comment on it. There is a box with this and other Grieg orchestral works with Järvi and the GSO, BTW. It claims to be complete and contains 6 CDs - there is quite a bit more orchestral music and lieder by Grieg than what gets normally played.

[scarpia]

Best of all time is in here:

[DavidRoss]

More nearly complete than his SD disc, in decent sound, and with Mari Anne Häggander.  OOP, but in great enough demand that Archiv is selling licensed CDRs.

[M forever]

Best of all time is in here:

That's just the two suites, not even a nearly or half complete selection from the music (which is also different in that it includes vocal and some spoken parts). That doesn't make sense to compare - and I wonder if you were actually aware of that. Which then makes me wonder how you can declare something "the best of all times" when you obviously haven't compared a lot of recordings. Otherwise you would have known the difference.

[Holden]

....is much of the incidental music to Peer Gynt and includes sung and choral music. It is out there in a number of other incarnations and is easily the best I've heard. I prefer this to the suites.

[M forever]

Which other ones have you heard?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I only have the suites but they're taken from the Blomstedt recording mentioned above. I can only echo the praise.

The Nielsen that fills out this disc is excellent, too.

[eyeresist]

The one-disc Tate on EMI Redline has good sound and performance, spoiled by some rather "characterful" singing from one of the women.

[Wanderer]

There is a box with this and other Grieg orchestral works with Järvi and the GSO, BTW. It claims to be complete and contains 6 CDs - there is quite a bit more orchestral music and lieder by Grieg than what gets normally played.

There's also a BIS "complete orchestral music" 8 CD set (full contents here), played by the Bergen PO/Ruud. It includes Peer Gynt in its entirety as well as the suites. It looks interesting; can anyone comment on the performances?

[val]

It is old but the sound is not bad. I am referring to the version of Thomas Beecham, elegant, with a superb dynamic. Sometimes a little artificial too, but the work doesn't seem to suffer from that.

[Holden]

Which other ones have you heard?

Beecham
Jarvi
Blomstedt

[dirkronk]

I've been quiet so far, because Todd indicated a preference for "modern recording, best possible sound." Almost all of mine are old and on LP, though most in good stereo: the Beecham on EMI already mentioned for excerpts (I once owned the Barbirolli, which was actually better recorded, but it has disappeared), Otto Gruner-Hege(sp?)/Oslo and Fjeldstad/LSO for the suites, and Per Dreier (a 1978 recording, my most recent, on a 2-LP set) on Unicorn for more or less the full score. I have to admit that the Dreier has some really nice music all the way through. I just need to be in the right mood to settle in for the long haul, instead of insisting on a "bleeding chunk" snippet of the whirlwind excitement I first found as a child in "Hall of the Mountain King."


Hmmm. Wonder who did the Peer Gynt suite on the old Reader's Digest set my parents had when I was growing up? That one had some oommph to it!

Dirk

[scarpia]

That's just the two suites, not even a nearly or half complete selection from the music (which is also different in that it includes vocal and some spoken parts). That doesn't make sense to compare - and I wonder if you were actually aware of that. Which then makes me wonder how you can declare something "the best of all times" when you obviously haven't compared a lot of recordings. Otherwise you would have known the difference.

I do know the difference.  The original post specified a recording of the suits.

[DavidRoss]

I agree, Don--have the Blomstedt/SFSO Aladdin in their Nielsen symphony set, and like it quite a bit, too.  I've heard Jarvi, Salonen, Karajan, and prefer Blomstedt for the clarity, grace, restraint, good sound, and because I'm biased in favor of the home team.

[dirkronk]

I <SNIP> prefer Blomstedt for the clarity, grace, restraint, good sound, and because I'm biased in favor of the home team.

Restraint? RESTRAINT? In the Hall of the Mountain King? Are you CRAZY? I want wild, menacing, whirling, breathless excitement! I want to have that troll scare the bejeebers outa me! This is no music for restraint, I say!!




Dirk

[scarpia]

Restraint? RESTRAINT? In the Hall of the Mountain King? Are you CRAZY? I want wild, menacing, whirling, breathless excitement! I want to have that troll scare the bejeebers outa me! This is no music for restraint, I say!!




Dirk

Then you want Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Restraint? RESTRAINT? In the Hall of the Mountain King? Are you CRAZY? I want wild, menacing, whirling, breathless excitement! I want to have that troll scare the bejeebers outa me! This is no music for restraint, I say!!

Dirk,

I think David is talking about the Nielsen.

[dirkronk]

Dirk,

I think David is talking about the Nielsen.

(Doing my best Emily Latella imitation...)
Oh...okay then. Never mind.

[Todd]

Hmm, looks like Blomstedt is worth a listen.  I've seen the Jarvi set, and it may be worth hearing some other music too.  Mi to-buy list has been updated . . .