Christina Högman, Claes-Håkan Ahnsjö, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Järvi - Hugo Alfven: The Symphonies & Rhapsodies [5CD] (2004)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Upsala-rapsodi (Uppsala Rhapsody), Op. 24, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 2"
02. Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 7: I. Grave-Allegro con brio
03. Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 7: II. Andante
04. Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 7: III. Allegro molto scherzando
05. Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 7: IV. Allegro ma non troppo
06. Drapa, Op. 27, "In memoriam King Oscar II"
07. Uppenbarelsekantat (Revelation Cantata), Op. 31: Revelation Cantata, Op. 31: Andante religioso

CD2
01. Midsommarvaka (Midsummer Vigil), Op. 19, "Swedish Rhapsody No.1"
02. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11: I. Moderato
03. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11: II. Andante
04. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11: III. Allegro
05. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11: IV. Preludio: Adagio
06. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 11: (IV.) Fuga: Allegro energico

CD3
01. Dalarapsodi (Dalecarlian Rhapsody), Op. 47, "Swedish Rhapsody No. 3"
02. Symphony No. 3 in E Major, Op. 23: I. Allegro con brio
03. Symphony No. 3 in E Major, Op. 23: II. Andante
04. Symphony No. 3 in E Major, Op. 23: III. Presto
05. Symphony No. 3 in E Major, Op. 23: IV. Allegro con brio
06. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: I. Ganglat fran Leksand-Sonens ganglat (Moderato-Piu allegro)
07. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: II. Polska fran Orsa
08. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: III. Drottningens av Saba festmarsch (Allegro maestoso)
09. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: IV. Polketta (Tempo di polketta)
10. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: V. Steklat (Allegretto)
11. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: VI. Polka
12. Den forlorade sonen (The Prodigal Son) Suite: VII. Final (Polska)

CD4
01. En skargardssagen (A Tale from the Archipelago), Op. 20: A Tale from the Archipelago (En Skargardssagen), Op. 20
02. Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 39, "From the Outskirts of the Archipelago (Fran Havsbandet)"

CD5
01. Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite: I. Invocation (Besvarjelse)
02. Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite: II. Sorceress's Dance (Trollflickans Dans)
03. Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite: III. Summer Rain (Sommarregn)
04. Bergakungen (The Mountain King) Suite: IV. Shepherd Girl's Dance (Vallflickans Dans)
05. Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 54: I. Lento-Allegro non troppo
06. Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 54: II. Andante
07. Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 54: III. Lento-Allegro-Presto molto agitato
08. Symphony No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 54: IV. Finale: Allegro con brio
09. Gustav Adolf II, Op. 49 (Suite): Elegy

Some of the most colourful music to come out of Sweden – and indeed some of the most Swedish music there is! – was composed by Hugo Alfvén (1872- 1960). The Swedish Rhapsody No. 1 - also known as Midsummer Vigil – is a splendid evocation of Sweden's most important seasonal festival, combining all the dancing, aquavit, wild-flowers, folk costumes and eroticism one could possibly ask for.
The brilliantly orchestrated Suite from the Mountain King is one of the most frequently performed pieces of Swedish music. But Alfvén is also highly regarded as a symphonist and he claimed that his Symphony No. 1 was the first to be written 'in the Swedish language.'
This attractively priced box brings together all of the symphonies, the three Swedish rhapsodies and other works – a large part of Alfvén's output for orchestra. Previously released on five separate CDs, these recordings were greeted with great enthusiasm by reviewers when first released.

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