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Hyperion is delighted to present a disc of Grieg’s songs. Grieg’s sheer range as a song-writer—from the shortest settings, folk-like and immediate, to the depth of distinctive inspiration that runs through every bar of the major cycle Haugtussa—places him without question among the finest masters of the genre. Arne Garborg’s verse-novel Haugtussa created a deep impression on Grieg. The resulting marriage of poetry and music is one of the miracles of the nineteenth-century song-cycle genre. Many regard this work as Grieg’s masterpiece: it is certainly one of the greatest song-cycles for the female voice ever written, revealing the composer at the very height of his powers. “Karnéus is a singer of natural warmth and spontaneity who possesses what Grieg called the gift of "reading between the lines" and "interpreting a half-told tale"… A glorious disc.” The Telegraph, 5th July 2008 “Grieg's aim was to invest the Norwegian art song with the status - national, as well as aesthetic - of the German lied. That he succeeded is borne out by every track of this beautifully programmed disc...Karnéus's performances are thrillingly awash with grand passions and high voltage drama. Drake is faultless.” The Guardian, 11th July 2008 **** “There can never be too many recordings of Grieg's masterpiece, Haugtussa ('The Mountain Maid')… In the mezzo-soprano of Katarina Karnéus, Haugtussa becomes a darkly erotic tale…” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2008 **** “The Swedish mezzo has illustrious rivals but delights in Grieg's tuneful songs… in Haugtussa. Karnéus and Julius Drake are all over the imagery, scenery and sexuality of Garborg's verse novel in thrilling and well worked detail.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2008 “Anne Sofie von Otter's Grieg recital for DG (see above) did much to encourage singers outside Scandinavia to bring back to the concert platform – and the public again to listen to – songs which their great-grandparents knew well but their parents had almost forgotten. Now another front-ranking Swedish mezzo-soprano has recorded core components of the Grieg song repertoire. Like her compatriot, Katarina Karnéus includes the Op 67 'Mountain Maid' cycle, the Ibsen settings, the six German lyrics of Op 48 and the early Hans Christian Andersen 'Melodies of the Heart', adding, suitably, the less well known 'The Princess' to words by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.
Compare Karnéus, von Otter and Kirsten Flagstad (one of at least three recordings) in Haugtussa.
Karnéus and Julius Drake are all over the imagery, scenery and sexuality of Garborg's verse novel in thrilling and well worked detail. Flagstad may appear at first hearing to be limiting herself to heroic declamation and her pianist (regular collaborator Edwin McArthur) just mapping out the written notes, but her sheer joy in singing her own language, and the subtlety of her pointing of the text (a half-smile, a raised eyebrow) and cunning use of her large voice make their own points.
Von Otter has something of both sides – a weightier tone and more reserve than Karnéus but a much wider colour range than Flagstad chooses to deploy – and Bengt Forsberg is a magician in these accompaniments.
Elsewhere the Karnéus performances are good and lively in the Scandinavian lyrics (a passionate 'Jeg elsker dig', a good range of moods in the Ibsen settings), more formal in the German settings.
All Saints Church in Finchley, north London, sounds especially resonant here, not everywhere an advantage in such text-oriented settings. Lots to enjoy and celebrate then, but don't ignore the competition.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Grieg - The Complete Songs Volume 1
| | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Grieg - Complete Songs
Grieg: | Four Songs, Op. 15 Three Songs from Peer Gynt, Op. 23 Six Poems by Holger Drachmann, Op. 49 Digte (5) af Vilhelm Krag, Op. 60 Hjertets melodier, Op. 5 (Texts: Hans Christian Andersen) 12 Melodies to poems by A.O. Vinje, Op. 33 Elegiske Digte af John Paulsen (Six Elegiac Songs by John Paulsen), Op. 59 The Mountain Thrall Op. 32 7 Children's Songs Op. 61 Haugtussa, Op. 67 Seks Digte, Op. 4 Fire digte af 'Fiskerjenten'. Op. 21 Reminiscences from Mountain and Fjord, Op. 44 Seks Sange, Op. 48 Five songs by John Paulsen, Op. 58 Vier Lieder für Altstimme, Op. 2 Four Romances, Op. 10 Romancer og Sange (Nine Songs), Op. 18 Seks Digte af Ibsen, Op. 25 (Texts: Henrik Ibsen) Easter Song, EG146 The Fair-haired Maid [two versions], EG130 & EG138 The Hunter Romancer og Ballader af Andreas Munch, Op. 9 Five Poems to texts by John Paulsen, Op. 26 Romancer (aeldre og nyerer), Op. 39 Five Songs by Otto Benzon, Op. 69 Five Songs by Otto Benzon, Op.70 The Singing Congregation, EG122 Ave Maris Stella Til L.M. Lindemans Sølvbryllup (For L.M. Lindeman's Silver Wedding) EG 135 Blåbæret (The Blueberry) EG 145 Julens Vuggesang, EG 155 (text: Adolf Langsted) Til Kirken hun vandrer (She Walks to the Church) EG 123 Vesle Gut, EG129 Atteglöyma, EG 142 (Text: A.O. Vinje) Den hvide, røde Rose (The White and the Red Rose) EG 137 Soldaten, EG125 Taaren, EG128 Fædrelandssang, EG151 Odalisken synger (Song of the Odalisque) EG 131 A Simple Song, EG147 Jenta (The Girl) EG 141 Jeg elsket, EG 153 (Text: Björnstjerne Björnson, fra oratoriet Fred) Under Juletraeet, EG 144 (text: Nordahl Rolfsen) Min lille Fugl (My little Bird) EG 126 Election Song, EG149 På Hamars Ruiner (On Hamar's Ruins) EG 140 Gentlemen-Menige, EG156 To a Devil, EG154 Til Generalkonsul Chr. Tønsberg (To Consul General Chr. Tønsberg) EG 136 Songs from 'Haugtussa' (not included in Op. 67) Clara’s Song, EG124 Dig elsker jeg!, EG 127 (Text: Caralis(Christian Preetzmann)) The Princess, EG133 Sighs, EG134 Morning Prayer at School, EG139 |
Marianne Hirsti (soprano), Kjell Magnus Sandve (tenor), Knut Skram (baritone) & Rudolf Jansen (piano) Although famous for his evergreen Piano Concerto and the music he composed for Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Grieg’s output is dominated by short works – exquisite miniatures for piano and song. In the pantheon of composers influenced by the traditional music of their homeland, Grieg ranks along side Dvorak, Kodály, Bartok and Vaughan Williams. All in their own way ‘saved’ for posterity the rich legacy of music passed down through generations of their countrymen. Grieg ensured that the folk tunes of Norway had a new lease of life when set to words by Ibsen, Benzon, Krag and Varen, and others. These are not songs as Schubert or Wolf would have composed. They are simple, folk-based, honest and true, and display the true genius of the composer as a miniaturist. If ever the saying ‘small is beautiful’ applies, it is to these songs. After settling down with his wife (also his cousin) Nina Hagerup – the inspiration for many of his songs – he concentrated on establishing a Norwegian National School of music. This 7CD set is the only complete edition of the songs Recordings date from the early 1990s Many songs receiving their first recording ‘The Grieg song edition continues rather as it began – with many causes for gratitude, a few occasions for quite intense pleasure…In expression she (Hirsti) is similar to Flagstad, warm in feeling, and letting the affection communicate almost of its own accord…Christa Pfeiler sings with pleasing tone and …Voice and piano are well…Rudolf Jansen is a sensitive and skilful accompanist throughout’ Gramophone | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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