Postcard from Oslo
Oslo has transformed in the last five decades. What felt like a provincial port town 50 years ago is now a thriving metropolis with one of the most rapidly changing skylines in the world. As the capital of one of classical music's new powerhouse territories, Oslo is becoming a creative force to be reckoned with too.
Read more…- Sinding • Pieces for Piano op. 32 • 3. FrühlingsrauschenPieces for Piano op. 32
3. FrühlingsrauschenChristian Ihle Hadland (Piano)November 2006, Fredrikstad, Old Fredrikstad Church - Janson • Sonnet No. 76 (2000)Sonnet No. 76 (2000)Eirik Krokfjord (Baritone), Grete Pedersen
The Norwegian Soloists' ChoirJune 2017, Oslo, Ris Kirke - Grieg • Symphonic Dances op. 64 • I. Dance No. 1 in G major Allegro moderato e marcatoSymphonic Dances op. 64
I. Dance No. 1 in G major Allegro moderato e marcatoPaavo Järvi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra℗ 2006 - Grieg • From Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra) • 1. Prelude. Allegro vivaceFrom Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra)
1. Prelude. Allegro vivaceEivind Aadland, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2012 - Grieg • From Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra) • 2. Sarabande. AndanteFrom Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra)
2. Sarabande. AndanteEivind Aadland, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2012 - Grieg • From Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra) • 3. Gavotte. AllegrettoFrom Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra)
3. Gavotte. AllegrettoEivind Aadland, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2012 - Grieg • From Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra) • 4. Air. Andante religiosoFrom Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra)
4. Air. Andante religiosoEivind Aadland, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2012 - Grieg • From Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra) • 5. Rigaudon. Allegro con brioFrom Holberg's Time (Suite in Olden Style) op. 40 'Holberg Suite' (Version for String Orchestra)
5. Rigaudon. Allegro con brioEivind Aadland, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2012 - Backer Grøndahl • Melodi op. 41/5Melodi op. 41/5Anne Sofie von Otter (Mezzo-soprano), Bengt Forsberg (Piano)℗ 2005
- Svendsen • Romance for Violin and Orchestra in G major op. 26 • Andante - Più mosso - Tempo I - Più mosso - LentoRomance for Violin and Orchestra in G major op. 26
Andante - Più mosso - Tempo I - Più mosso - LentoMarianne Thorsen (Violin), Neeme Järvi
Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester2010, Bergen, Grieghallen - Irgens-Jensen • Passacaglia • I. PassacagliaPassacaglia
I. PassacagliaBjarte Engeset, Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraMay 2009, Poole, The Lighthouse Poole - Tchaikovsky • Symphony No. 4 in F minor op. 36 TH 27 • IV. Finale. Allegro con fuocoSymphony No. 4 in F minor op. 36 TH 27
IV. Finale. Allegro con fuocoMariss Jansons, Oslo Philharmonic1984, Oslo, Oslo Philharmonic Concert Hall - Scriabin • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F sharp minor op. 20 • II. AndanteConcerto for Piano and Orchestra in F sharp minor op. 20
II. AndanteXiayin Wang (Piano), Peter Oundjian
Royal Scottish National OrchestraApril 2018, Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall - Svendsen • String Octet in A major op. 3 • IV. Finale. Moderato - Allegro assai con fuocoString Octet in A major op. 3
IV. Finale. Moderato - Allegro assai con fuocoAcademy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber EnsembleApril 1993, Suffolk, Snape Maltings Concert Hall - Delius • Eventyr - Once Upon a Time, for Orchestra RT VI/23 (1917) • Slow and mysteriouslyEventyr - Once Upon a Time, for Orchestra RT VI/23 (1917)
Slow and mysteriouslySir Andrew Davis, Bergen Filharmoniske OrkesterApril 2013, Bergen, Grieghallen - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • I. Thema
- Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • II. Sostenuto ed espressivoTema con variazioni
II. Sostenuto ed espressivoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • III. Allegretto graziosoTema con variazioni
III. Allegretto graziosoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • IV. Poco mosso ed agitatoTema con variazioni
IV. Poco mosso ed agitatoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • V. Tranquillo
- Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • VI. Allegro, un poco burlescoTema con variazioni
VI. Allegro, un poco burlescoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • VII. Allegro enfaticoTema con variazioni
VII. Allegro enfaticoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • VIII. Andante espressivoTema con variazioni
VIII. Andante espressivoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • IX. Vivace
- Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • X. Presto giocosoTema con variazioni
X. Presto giocosoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XI. Pesante, tempo moderatoTema con variazioni
XI. Pesante, tempo moderatoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XII. Mesto, poco rubatoTema con variazioni
XII. Mesto, poco rubatoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XIII. Allegro moltoTema con variazioni
XIII. Allegro moltoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XIV. Grave
- Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XV. Molto mossoTema con variazioni
XV. Molto mossoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XVI. Allegro energicoTema con variazioni
XVI. Allegro energicoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Irgens-Jensen • Tema con variazioni • XVII. Allegro animatoTema con variazioni
XVII. Allegro animatoEivind Aadland, Trondheim Symfoniorkester℗ 2013 - Valen • Intermezzo, Op. 36 • I. Intermezzo, Op. 36
- Bull • Cantabile doloroso e Rondo giocoso for Violin and Orchestra (1837) • Cantabile doloroso e Rondo giocosoCantabile doloroso e Rondo giocoso for Violin and Orchestra (1837)
Cantabile doloroso e Rondo giocosoCharlie Siem (Violin), Andrew Gourlay
London Symphony Orchestra℗ 2011 - Tchaikovsky • Souvenir de Florence op. 70 (Version for String Orchestra) • I. Allegro con spiritoSouvenir de Florence op. 70 (Version for String Orchestra)
I. Allegro con spiritoIona Brown, Det Norske KammerorkesterApril 1996, Eidsvoll, Eidsvoll Church, Norway - Grieg • Ave, Maris Stella EG 150 (Version for Chorus)Ave, Maris Stella EG 150 (Version for Chorus)Christopher Robinson, Choir Of St. John's College, CambridgeJune 1996, Cambridge, Chapel of St. John's College
- Grieg • String Quartet in G minor op. 27 • I. Un poco andanteString Quartet in G minor op. 27
I. Un poco andanteAtle Sponberg (Violin), Sølve Sigerland (Violin), Lars Anders Tomter (Viola), Truls Mørk (Violoncello)℗ 2002 - Grieg • Songs to Poems by A. O. Vinje op. 33 • 2. Våren (Last Spring)Songs to Poems by A. O. Vinje op. 33
2. Våren (Last Spring)Barbara Hendricks (Soprano), Roland Pöntinen (Piano)Remastered℗ 2002 - Saint-Saëns • Samson et Dalila op. 47 R 288: Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix (Act II) (Arr. for Trumpet and Orchestra)Samson et Dalila op. 47 R 288: Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix (Act II) (Arr. for Trumpet and Orchestra)Tine Thing Helseth (Trumpet), Eivind Aadland
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2011 - Sørensen • Lullabies (2000)
- Prokofiev • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D major op. 19 (1916-1917) • III. Finale. Moderato – Allegro moderatoConcerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in D major op. 19 (1916-1917)
III. Finale. Moderato – Allegro moderatoVilde Frang (Violin), Thomas Søndergård
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2009 - Grainger • La Scandinavie, Suite for Violoncello and Piano • 5. Air et finale sur des danses norvégiennesLa Scandinavie, Suite for Violoncello and Piano
5. Air et finale sur des danses norvégiennesAndreas Brantelid (Violoncello), Christian Ihle Hadland (Piano)2014, Suffolk, Potton Hall - Bach • Motet 'Komm, Jesu, komm' BWV 229 • Komm, Jesu, komm, mein Leib ist müde – Komm, komm, ich will mich dir ergeben –Motet 'Komm, Jesu, komm' BWV 229
Komm, Jesu, komm, mein Leib ist müde – Komm, komm, ich will mich dir ergeben –Grete Pedersen, Ensemble Allegria, The Norwegian Soloists' ChoirJune 2016, Oslo, Ris Kirke - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 1. Sommerfugl (Butterfly)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
1. Sommerfugl (Butterfly)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 2. Ensom vandrer (Solitary Traveler)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
2. Ensom vandrer (Solitary Traveler)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 3. I Hjemmet (In My Native Country)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
3. I Hjemmet (In My Native Country)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 4. Liden Fugl (Little Bird)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
4. Liden Fugl (Little Bird)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 5. Erotik (Erotikon)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
5. Erotik (Erotikon)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43 • 6. Til Foråret (To Spring)Lyric Pieces for Piano (Book 3) op. 43
6. Til Foråret (To Spring)Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)℗ 1993 - Grieg • Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1 op. 46 • 2. Åses død (The Death of Åse). Andante dolorosoPeer Gynt, Suite No. 1 op. 46
2. Åses død (The Death of Åse). Andante dolorosoLeonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic℗ 1973
But it took its time getting there. In the 19th century, Norwegian composers like Christian Sinding and Edvard Grieg were sent to Germany to learn their craft. When the latter returned home and began to breathe the spirit and freshness of Norwegian folksong into his music, a distinctive language was born that influenced a generation. Nature lay at the heart of that process, just as it surrounds Oslo with dramatic mountains on one side and serene fjords on the other.
After struggling through much of the 20th century – and enduring Nazi occupation during World War II – Norway literally struck oil in the 1970s and the transformation of its capital began. Mariss Jansons started his 23-season tenure at the Oslo Philharmonic in 1979, making a string of benchmark Tchaikovsky recordings – a legacy carried forward by one of his successors, Vasily Petrenko, with music by another Russian, Alexander Scriabin.
The influx of oil money has seen Norway build beautiful new venues including the now iconic Oslo Opera House, whose semi-submerged auditorium rises from the fjord like an iceberg. Much has been invested in education, which has seen Norway produce a string of talented instrumentalists from Leif Ove Andsnes to Vilde Frang, Christian Ihle Hadland and Tine Thing Helseth.
With each new generation of confident and curious artists – and a string of excellent regional orchestras – Norway has become as good at exploring its fascinating musical past as it has long been at investing in the sounds of the future. Our 'Postcard from Oslo' profiles the city's rich music life but includes some potential discoveries too – from the warm-hearted musical geometry of Ludvig Irgens-Jensen to the wonderful world of Norway's very own Arnold Schoenberg, Fartein Valen.