Trolls as Owls

 

At least coming from the keen imagination of Anna Boberg's sketches.

I love the individuality of the cover image. Sure, I could prattle on regarding the Troll-Owl's proboscis, his pants-less belt, which holds up nothing as far as I am concerned, where even the character's stern mouth and winged hand pointing with his walking stick speaks volumes. What a memorable drawing!

It has been a while since I have listened to a full ballet score. Ballet music sets itself apart from symphonies and concertos through a lack of musical development and pauses between movements.

While there is a closer relationship between ballet and opera, I would put it closer to film, for the music must describe or support, in purely instrumental terms, the scenery and action in front of the viewer. In addition, its music must be attuned to dancers and dance forms, a unique set of skills for any composer.

Bergakungen, or The Mountain King, sets a fantastical tale of a herdsmaid and herd-boy. As in these sorts of stories, the herdsmaid is abducted by mountain trolls, for which she must dance. The herd-boy is relegated as daring rescuer, and teams up with Humpe the woodland Troll, who is pictured above. The twist ending is rather dire.

As can be expected, Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén's music is lush and Romantic, but more importantly, colorful and fantastical.

Down on track 18, one is drawn to the Act III location - In the Hall of the Mountain King. No this music isn't as memorable as Grieg's famous Peer Gynt (BLOG), but it is a more than agreeable listen.

Story and music aside, the clear winner of this recording is the excellent playing of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. They sound simply ravishing here, and to my ears, Russian conductor Evgeny Svetlanov seems in no hurry, relishing all of Alfvén's lush orchestral settings.

On an older recording, with Stig Rybrant leading the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Bergakungen clocks in 10-minutes quicker than Svetlanov's. As I haven't heard that recording, I don't know if the time difference is due to cuts, or if Rybrant is simply that much faster. I certainly have no qualms regarding Svetlanov's performance, and I wonder what quality Malmö was in in the late 70s, nonetheless coming from the Swedish Society Discofil label.

Bergakungen is a lovely work, and would be an easy entry into Alfvén's orchestral music. There are occasional moments of folksy musical qualities here, but mostly this is lush late-Romanticism mixed with a fantasy tale.

 

 

 

 

Works
Bergakungen (The Mountain King)

Performers
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

Label: Musica Sveciae
Year: 1991
Total Timing: 78.46

 

 

 

 

Bergakungen isn't the most memorable ballet score, but it is exquisitely played by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Svetlanov.

Plus, who can forget Humpe the Troll?!?