Alfven: Symphony 5 & Bergakungen Suite

 

Some cite Hugo Alfvén's last two symphonies as lesser works than his earlier first three. I am certainly not overly warmed to the composer's brand of late-Romanticism, but that is more of a 'me' problem.

In Symphony no. 5 in A minor, most point to the 17-minute first movement as the work's finest material, whereas the following three movements are lesser. Personally, I find the opposite true.

Perhaps it is the opening's sheer length, often moody and stormy in turns, very much in a turbulent late-Romantic model, which is simply too much for me.

Each of the two middle movements are but a third of the length of any one of the outer movements. Not that length directs my pleasures in music, but a composer really has to sustain interest to win me over, although Neeme Järvi's aggressive, brass-forward approach is certainly compelling.

I enjoy the rather sombre funeral march which inhabits the start of the second movement. Chorale-like, with some curious turns of harmony, my attention is immediately taken by, what eventually turns into, Alfvén's bucolic Andante.

So too, what strange colors the composer creates in the third movement Scherzo. The low, growling winds against the xylophone is a unique match up, plus the muted brass create a disturbed elephant sound to send shivers up one's neck. The attached Trio is lusher sounding, set in a gentle lilt, although it doesn't take long for Alfvén to push the music along.

The final movement of Alfvén's Fifth Symphony is the opening's opposite, with a glorious fanfare of activity to open another lengthy movement. The bassoons and horns take the opening melody, and a winner it is, both gentle and rustic, giving a feeling of the outdoors once again. Perhaps it is the finale's positive spirit which endears me to it, or the folksy, agrarian orchestrations and melody, but either way, I find the music in Alfvén's best light, even if some castigate the music as overly repetitive.

I remember the first time I heard the Elegy from Gustavus Adolphus; I played that thing over and over again. It is akin to listening to Debussy' The Girl with the Flaxen Hair. Although rather slight at a 4-minute runtime, there is something about the Elegy's warm, emotional waves which captures my imagination.

Bergakungen is a 70-80 minute ballet, famously recorded completely by Evgeny Svetlanov and Stig Rybrant. The concert suite performed here is but a mere 15 minutes, giving the listener four scenes from the work. I must admit I find the suite a little disappointing compared to the complete ballet music, but I suppose it provides the listener a taste of Alfvén's composition, and his music is ever colorful in a fantastical manner.

 

 

 

 

Works
Symphony 5 in A minor (47.42)
Bergakungen: Suite (15.00)
Gustav II Adolf: Elegy (4.06)

Performers
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Neeme Järvi, conductor

Label: BIS
Year: 1993; 2004
Total Timing: 67.58