Danish composer Niels Viggo Bentzon is a phenomenon. At 80 years old, his catalogue has reached the amazing figure of 650 compositions, among them several operas and ballets, 24 symphonies, 14 string quartets, and 25 piano sonatas. It's only natural to expect the worst from such a prolific composer. Actually, aside from maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship, his music does have a distinctive flavor, with hints of Nielsen, Bartók, Shostakovich, and Hindemith blended into a personal idiom--effective if not always deeply original. The two symphonies presented here are highly energetic works, powerfully projected and orchestrated. The Seventh (1952), subtitled "The Three Versions", combines monumental, dramatic gestures into a single, 30-minute movement, with great diversity of atmosphere and fast-driven rhythms. No less interesting, the Fifth, subtitled "Ellipses" (1950), displays through its five movements an anxious lyricism à la Hindemith, underlined by intense melodic lines and thick harmonies. Bentzon's quasi-improvisational style may sound erratic after repeated listening, but at homeopathic doses, it is worth a try. The performances are affectionate and deeply involved in the music's turmoil, but the cavernous, distant sound (recorded in 1980 and 1982) lacks clarity, with slightly more presence in the Seventh Symphony.

--Luca Sabbatini