Perhaps I was expecting something more along Liszt's Battle of the Huns. Certainly if something were crafted today, such music would be filled with dissonance, tragedy, and a hope for peace.
That is not the case here. Fanfares, snare and bass drum, and timpani insert themselves to conjure some militant images. Yet Berwald can't help himself with soft gentility and gentle melodiousness which seems out of place.
Still, a fun find!
The concertos are the other rarities here. I didn't care for this performance of the Violin Theme and Variations (not that there is another). It seems to want to slow down and wallow in its soloistic Romanticism, but the soloist doesn't seem to rise to the occasion. He also seems to struggle with the double and triple stops, or at least this is the impression I heard.
The Concerto for Two Violins is much more successful, and I like the soloists making harmony away from the orchestra. Only the middle movement seems relatively bland. The opera excerpts here feature more of Berwald's hustle and bustle, although I think it is the Golconda ballet music which rises to the occasion.
Of course, Sterling and their ever dedicated mission to provide every corner of Scandinavian music is to be applauded. This recording alone has a lot of music attached to it. Of course, the Malmö players have made great strides on Naxos as a major ensemble to be reckoned with, and Willén is not a green unknown either.
A review from 2024
The military pomp in Berwald’s 18+minute Battle of Leipzig comes mainly from some trumpet fanfares, plus snare and bass drum. Otherwise, this is a Classical approach; the Battle is not necessarily harrowing nor filled with special effects. In fact there are some rather unexpected intimate moments among the melodically gentille bombast.
Of the concertante works, The Concerto for Two Violins leads the pack in quality. Berwald pairs the two soloists well, and each get equal time on their own as well as creating harmony as a team. Only the middle march movement seems designed for the orchestra rather than the soloists.
Johannes Lörstad, the lead violinist, seems to want to move the Theme and Variations for violin to a dead crawl. I think he either wants to over-Romanticize it and try to draw out those qualities (if so, unsuccessfully), or he struggles with the double and triple stops and slows the work down. Any two ways about it, it doesn’t quite come together.
The popular Queen of Golconda and Estrella de Soria utilize a full brass section, so along with the Battle of Leipzig, make much more of an impact. The ballet sequence from Golconda is quite tender, and is the centerpiece of these opera excerpts. The Malmö Orchestra is fully capable in all of this music, and really
surprised me with their quality. The Sterling sonics add to the delights. Most of this music can only be found here, except for the Overtures. So, for those looking to explore beyond Berwald’s symphonies, which one should really start with, or his chamber music, this is a logical place to journey next.
Listen on YouTube
Works
Battle of Leipzig (18.46)
Two Violin Concerto (12.52)
Violin Theme & Variations (13.18)
Golconda excerpts (17.25)
Estella excerpts (11.24)
Soloists
Johannes Lörstad, violin
Andreas Hagman, violin
Ensemble
Malmö Opera Orchestra
Niklas Willén, conductor
Label: Sterling
Year: 2002
Total Timing: 75.15
Really only for Berwald completists, but The Battle of Leipzig is a solid one to look up, even if its war theme is Classically bound.
Can't complain about these performers either, although the repertoire was hit and miss for me.
The little bits of opera extras are among many premiers here.
Find more Berwald recording HERE!
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