Iceland Symphony Orchestra

Dag Wirén’s Perfectly Pithy Orchestral Works

David Hurwitz

Swedish composer Dag Wirén was the very model of what […]

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Major Discoveries: Leifs’ Very Approachable Edda Part 1

David Hurwitz

It’s been a long time coming, but it was worth

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Jón Leifs: Start Here

David Hurwitz

Jón Leifs’ music tends to extremes: of volume, ensemble size,

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Major Discoveries: Leifs’ “Choreographic Drama” Baldr

David Hurwitz

Baldr is Jon Leifs’ richest and longest single work, and

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Major Discoveries: Williamson’s Our Man in Havana

David Hurwitz

When Malcolm Williamson died in 2003, the musical world scarcely

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Sandström: Orchestral Works

David Hurwitz

Here’s a disc full of marvelous contemporary music, plain and simple. Jan Sandström’s pieces have recognizable tunes (not essential, but it never hurts), orchestration both

d’Indy: Orch works, Vol. 3–Symphony No. 3, etc./Iceland Symphony

David Hurwitz

Amazingly, most of this music is available in multiple recordings, even the much-maligned Third Symphony, subtitled “Short Symphony in a Time of War”. It’s actually

D’Indy: Symphony No. 2/Iceland Symphony

David Hurwitz

We’re still waiting for a truly great recording of this powerful symphony, but this one is quite good. Rumon Gamba characterizes the music well, choosing

D’Indy: Orchestral music

Victor Carr Jr

Most listeners know of Vincent d’Indy for his most famous work, Symphony on a French Mountain Air, which used to be regularly tacked onto recordings

Madetoja: Symphonies Nos. 1-3, etc.

David Hurwitz

This set reissues at mid-price the contents of two full CDs containing Leevi Madetoja’s complete symphonies and other selected orchestral music. Sibelius overshadowed Madetoja’s reputation,