Pettersson's Pavilion

[Spotted Horses]

Well, I decided to go in order, and since I last listened to the second symphony, I put on the third. Lindberg has not recorded it (yet?) so I went with the cpo recording.

Sort of a let-down. It is in four movements, rather than an hour long stretch of music, and it was not particularly angst-ridden or histrionic. The beginning was sort of jaunty. Didn't make a huge impression, overall. I have the sinking feeling that I could have been listening to Maxwell Davies.

[DavidW]

Bit of a Pettersson kick this weekend: listened to 6, 7 and 8 over the past couple days. All three are so good, though are fairly similar to one another. I think 7 is still my favorite, though they're all very, very good.

I downloaded the Klassik Haus needle drop of Pettersson's 9th with the Gothenburg under Sergiu Comissiona. I don't know if I'm up for it just yet, it's a massive symphony. I'm tempted to get the Comissiona 8th as well, but I ought to spend more time with the one I already have, Thomas Sanderling/RSO Berlin on CPO, first.

Anyone else listening?

The 9th was the hardest for me to get into but worth the struggle.  You should seek out Segerstam's recordings.  He really got Pettersson better than anyone else IMO.

[DavidW]

Out of curiosity, about Pettersson's symphonies, which one do you think is better, the BIS recordings or the CPO edition?

CPO.  I find Lindberg lacks the drive and drama necessary here.  He focuses on microdetail and ends up sounding bland.

But CPO is hit and miss.  Some conductors like Sanderling are amazing, and some are... not.  Lindberg is far more consistent.  I think if you listen to one of his recordings and liked it, you would probably like all of his recordings.

[DavidW]

Well, I decided to go in order, and since I last listened to the second symphony, I put on the third. Lindberg has not recorded it (yet?) so I went with the cpo recording.

Sort of a let-down. It is in four movements, rather than an hour long stretch of music, and it was not particularly angst-ridden or histrionic. The beginning was sort of jaunty. Didn't make a huge impression, overall. I have the sinking feeling that I could have been listening to Maxwell Davies.

I don't like anything pre-6th symphony.

[DavidW]

and some are... not. 

I liked how I was trying to be polite about it, only after to read J's brutally honest post!  Yes the box is highly inconsistent in quality.  Perhaps the most inconsistent set I've ever heard of anything.

[vandermolen]

I don't like anything pre-6th symphony.

+1 although a friend thinks highly of No.4
I had No.2 on LP but it didn't make much impression on me.

[vers la flamme]

I liked how I was trying to be polite about it, only after to read J's brutally honest post!  Yes the box is highly inconsistent in quality.  Perhaps the most inconsistent set I've ever heard of anything.

Which CPO performances did you not like?

[foxandpeng]

Fox, what's your absolute favorite of the BIS Pettersson CDs? I'm asking because I really want to hear some of it, and I can only afford one 

I would be hard pressed. If I were in your shoes I would pick my favourite symphony and start there?

[vers la flamme]

I would be hard pressed. If I were in your shoes I would pick my favourite symphony and start there?

I don't know them nearly enough to have a real favorite, but I went for the 5 & 7 disc. You all will be hearing from me on whether I like it or not soon enough... 

[Karl Henning]

This is the sort of discussion that gets me listening to Pettersson, against my better judgement.

I feel ya, friend!

[Keemun]

Out of curiosity, about Pettersson's symphonies, which one do you think is better, the BIS recordings or the CPO edition?

Which BIS recordings?  There are two sets for at least some of the symphonies: Leif Segerstam and Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra from the 1990s, and more recently, Christian Lindberg and and Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra.

The 7th Symphony is the only that I have listened to both BIS recordings and the CPO recording, and my vote is for BIS/Segerstam.  I do need to listen to Comissiona and also revisit Dorati. 

[Lisztianwagner]

Which BIS recordings?  There are two sets for at least some of the symphonies: Leif Segerstam and Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra from the 1990s, and more recently, Christian Lindberg and and Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra.

The 7th Symphony is the only that I have listened to both BIS recordings and the CPO recording, and my vote is for BIS/Segerstam.  I do need to listen to Comissiona and also revisit Dorati. 

Both the Segerstam and the Lindberg.

[DavidW]

Which CPO performances did you not like?

Sorry for the very late reply... which will become even later!  I'll reply tomorrow.  I've been offline for a few days.

[Atriod]

Well, I decided to go in order, and since I last listened to the second symphony, I put on the third. Lindberg has not recorded it (yet?) so I went with the cpo recording.

Sort of a let-down. It is in four movements, rather than an hour long stretch of music, and it was not particularly angst-ridden or histrionic. The beginning was sort of jaunty. Didn't make a huge impression, overall. I have the sinking feeling that I could have been listening to Maxwell Davies.

Brutal take down of poor Maxwell Davies lol. Though I mostly only listen to his string quartets.

[Spotted Horses]

Brutal take down of poor Maxwell Davies lol. Though I mostly only listen to his string quartets.

You got my meaning reversed. What I meant was, why listen to this unremarkable work by Pettersson when I could have been listening to something more interesting by Maxwell Davies.

[vers la flamme]

Thoughts on Allan Pettersson's 12th symphony? I have not heard it, but I am intrigued to see what he makes of the choral symphony genre. I am also interested in the one with obbligato saxophone; which one is that again? 15, 16?

[J]

The dilemma is always that in order to determine whether something's worth listening to, you have to listen to it, and then can't take that listening back (and replace it with something else) if you judge it as unworthy.

What's the worth of listening to unworthy music, I think is what you're asking.

You got my meaning reversed. What I meant was, why listen to this unremarkable work by Pettersson when I could have been listening to something more interesting by Maxwell Davies.

[Maestro267]

Everything is worth listening to at least once.

[Spotted Horses]

Everything is worth listening to at least once.

Have you listened to Haydn's 126 Baryton trios yet?

[Spotted Horses]

Just listened to the 6th Symphony of Pettersson (Lindberg) in it's entirety.



A remarkable work. It occurs to me that so much time isn't needed to complete this musical journey, but at any given moment the music is satisfying. The glory of it is what I would have called the coda, except what I was thinking of as the code sprouted a coda, which may have sprouted a codetta. Let's say the last 10 minutes or so, producing a mood of uneasy resignation, nicely rich and sensuous in its harmony and orchestration.