Ole Olsen (1850-1927) was a thoroughly second-rate composer without a shred of originality, and much as I applaud Sterling for its program of recording little-known music by neglected names, it’s hard to find much to cheer about here. The best piece is the symphonic poem Asgaardsreien, a faux-Wagnerian essay that, despite somewhat noisy scoring, makes its points effectively and ends promptly. The symphony is merely insipid, a bland essay in musical inhibitions, while the Suite for String Orchestra (derived from incidental music to a fairy-tale comedy by Nordahl-Rolfsen) has barely enough substance to sustain its modest, 17-minute length. The performances are proficient, but the greatest orchestra and conductor in the world would be hard pressed to make anything special out of this stuff.
