The most spectacular performance here, Vladimir Ashkenazy’s nerve-tingling Sibelius En Saga with the Philharmonia Orchestra, hardly fits the “Nordic Suites” category of Eloquence’s title, any more than his Finlandia or Marriner’s Swan of Tuonela, which are also included. But for listeners unfamiliar with this music (and the Grieg works that occupy the greater part of these two CDs) here’s an excellent way to get to know it without spending the earth, and the performances are of uniform quality throughout.
The larger Grieg works–the Peer Gynt and Sigurd Jorsalfar extracts–are from Decca masters, played by the English Chamber Orchestra under Raymond Leppard. There’s a case for suggesting that “In the Hall of the Mountain King” or the “Hommage March” (from Sigurd Jorsalfar) require full symphonic forces to do them justice, but Leppard balances his much smaller resources carefully, ensuring that every strand of detailing is plainly audible. The lyrically nostalgic central episode of the march is especially well done. The smaller pieces, such as “Anitra’s dance” or the string orchestra version of the Op. 54 Lyric Suite sound stylish and polished. Leppard’s Holberg Suite also is subtly controlled and elegant, but dynamic range is compressed, most obviously in movement IV (Andante religioso).
If you require these works complete, and with full annotations, consider Neeme Järvi’s Grieg set from Gothenburg in DG’s “Collectors’ Edition” series. The recordings are fine, the minor caveat being that the full Gothenburg Symphony string section never attains the sheen and transparency of the ECO under Leppard, especially in the “Holberg” music. As an example, the notoriously difficult ending of the “Rigaudon” is hard to bring off with full strings, and Järvi’s team (especially his solo violinist) only just about make it through, whereas Leppard’s ECO negotiates it flawlessly. [5/21/2002]
