Johan Halvorsen

[swanekj]

Has anyone heard any of the larger scale works of Halvorsen?  Amazon has 3 symphonies and lots of suites in several CDs, but not one review for any of them.

[Alan Howe]

The symphonies (on 2 Simax CDs) are colourful, melodic and very enjoyable - just not particularly distinctive. Great fun, though - and well worth trying if you're into late-Romantic stuff with something of nationalistic feel.

[swanekj]

The symphonies (on 2 Simax CDs) are colourful, melodic and very enjoyable - just not particularly distinctive. Great fun, though - and well worth trying if you're into late-Romantic stuff with something of nationalistic feel.

Does he sound like anyone else?  Brahms?  Grieg?  Wagner?  Thanks.

[Alan Howe]

Well, a bit like Grieg, I suppose. But not as interesting!

[Syrelius]

Swanekj,

if you like late 19th century music with a nationalist touch and you don't expect to uncover a hidden masterpiece, then the Halvorsen symphonies are worth investigating. In my opinion they are uneven, but parts of them are really good.

[Hovite]

Does he sound like anyone else?  Brahms?  Grieg?  Wagner?  Thanks.

"He works in the tradition of classical romanticism, and like his two great models, Grieg and Svendsen, he was influenced by Norwegian folk music" (NKFCD 50014-2).

His Symphony No. 2 "Fate" is a good place to start.