Grieg as We All too Rarely Hear Him
04/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's not hard to see why this recording has garnered so much critical attention. Besides the ardent and highly disciplined playing of Truls Mork and his accomplices--notably the excellent pianist Havard Gimse, a Grieg specialist--there is the music: Grieg's chamber works are rarely given their due, but here are two of his finest in performances that are bound to make believers out of all but the most skeptical listeners. Perhaps the cello sonata is the better piece (the notes to this CD seem to indicate such), but I'm more impressed with Grieg's lone string quartet, whose quasi-symphonic sound and slightly off-kilter saltarello last movement (Bergamo by way of Bergen!) make for memorable listening. Add to this a scherzo as finely wrought as just about any by Dvorak and an overheated first movement that gives the lie to those who feel Grieg's emotional range is limited, and you have a work that demands to be heard again. And again, if only to see whether or not the very interesting parts add up to a credible whole. I'm still trying to figure this out myself, but the String Quartet is nonetheless a fascinating composition.Even if I feel the Cello Sonata is less adventurous, more typical of Grieg in his folky vein--especially the bounding last movement--clearly it is a work of stature as well. And it probably hangs together better. The first movement has much of the grand drama of the comparable movement of the string quartet, while the slow movement, based on Grieg's own march from Sigurd Josalfar, is Grieg at his most introspective, rising to a fever pitch in the minor-key central episode.Besides the fervent playing of Mork and the other young musicians involved, there are additional attractions, including a powerful, you-are-there recording of the sonata made at the Grieg House in Bergen and an even more atmospheric one of the quartet made at a church in Oslo, plus fine liner notes and lovely color photos of the Grieg House and grounds. Highly recommended."
Wonderful stuff
jsa | San Diego, CA United States | 05/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a great find - two eminently listenable chamber music masterpieces from Grieg, passionately played & beautifully recorded. I was very familiar with the quartet from a recording by the Oslo Quartet (Naxos) in my collection, but I had never heard the cello sonata. I was immediately won over by it, a really great piece of music. And the quartet performance is truly distinguished, full of passion but never frenetic. Just wonderful.
Both works contain Norwegian folk material & are recognizable as Grieg compositions, but in no way do they contain "too much folksiness," a concern Grieg expressed prior to embarking on the quartet. On the other hand, the composer wrote music that people could identify with & would listen to, therefore the distinctive national flavor is very much embedded in both works.
This is an essential acquisition for Grieg lovers; & who doesn't love Grieg?
Very highly recommended!"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1