Two Norwegian Rhapsodies for Orchestra by Johan Svendsen (1958??). Mono.

Johan Svendsen (1840-1911) was a Norwegian conductor and composer. A friend of both Grieg and Wagner, his career seems to have a sharp divide. His major works were composed mainly in the 1870s. He traveled extensively around Europe and to the US. During his travels he composed music. Around 1880 he re-established himself in Oslo where he taught and conducted. In 1883, he was offered and accepted the post as conductor of the Royal Danish Orchestra, a post he would serve in for the next 20 years. He wrote no more significant works after he moved to Copenhagen - a development bemoaned by Grieg who considered him "the greatest artist the North possesses and one of the few great spirits of Europe."

I had not heard this music before, but found the Rhapsodies to be outstanding. It reminded me in a number of ways of Dvorak particularly with the incorporation of themes from folk melodies

A note on this record, I had hoped to also provide the Symphony No.2. And while the rest of the record is in remarkably good shape - the first movement of the symphony has a skip that simply could not be tamed or worked around. Despite this one flaw, as a mono record it has an unusual amount of width and depth to the sound.

Tracks:
00:00 Norwegian Rhapsody No.2 , op.19
10:10 Norwegian Rhapsody No.3, op. 21

Details:
Album title: Johan Svendsen. Rhapsody No.2. Rhapsody No.3. Symphony No.2
Released by: Mercury Classics. MG-90004
Year released: (Unknown but number and logo indicates late 1950s.)
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Øivin Fjeldstad