Why Not More?

 

After all, there are supposedly 10 cantatas from the Swedish composer. 

A sub-50 minute recording is awfully skimpy, and this one isn't even sourced from the LP era to justify such a brief runtime. Of course today, with streaming, Classical Music recordings are going back to shorter lengths, such as the Cleveland Orchestra's recent series, so some may not object.

The liner notes in both volumes of Alfvén's cantatas mention the 10 cantatas he wrote for special occasions, with this second entry listing each of them off. I am sure it is hard to source scores and parts for these occasional works, but try to fill up the possible 80 minutes of a CD with something.

For those dedicated to the music of Hugo Alfvén, two more cantatas will be more than enough to want to hear this recording. The Revelation Cantata bears a curious instrumentation - in addition to the two choirs separated spatially, Alfvén assigns certain instrumental combinations to specific choirs and vocal soloists depending on the text, akin to what Benjamin Britten did in his War Requiem.

In this case, there is a large role for pipe organ, a string quartet, harp, celesta, and a harmonium. I am not sure I hear the spatial difference between the choirs in this recording, but certainly the contrast between pipe organ, string quartet, and harp is striking, plus the harmonium is such an odd addition.

The music itself is fully Romantic, leaning towards celebratory declamations from all involved. I was particularly taken with the entrance of the harp and celesta, a beautiful musical moment, and using a pipe organ in a role more than mere accompaniment is always appreciated. Of course, choir with string quartet isn't the most commonplace either.

Before I comment on the specific performers, let me say a few words regarding Alfvén's Cantata for the 450th Anniversary of Uppsala University. The biggest difference lies in the work's use of full orchestra; otherwise chorus is this music's biggest focus alongside a few musings from a male and female vocal soloist.

Subtlety is not this cantata's biggest feature, although the opening slow march is an interesting start. As I was going to say in the Revelation Cantata, the soloists tend to sing at full volume, with little to no nuance in their proclamations. I can't tell if this is due to their feeling of needing to sing over the orchestra, or they are simply belting out for the fun of it.

There is a general mood of glorious bombast in this second cantata, and by the end, there is a sense of awe for what the musicians just went through. The Malmö Opera Orchestra performs admirably, while the choir singing is a little heavy of vibrato in both works. The recording location for the Revelation Cantata is often too reverb-filled, but I assume this is due to its spatial effects (which I didn't really hear) and capturing the pipe organ among the instruments and voices. The 450th Cantata is much better placed sonically in a different church location, where the orchestra fills in the gaps nicely.

As with the first volume on Sterling Records, none of this music is essential listening, but will pique the interest of choral music lovers and Alfvén dedicatees. More often than not, the composer's cantatas are quite stirring, even exhausting at times. Too bad Arvo Volmer, or his time and budget, couldn't have afforded some more of Alfvén's orchestrated choral music to fill up the runtime, nor Sterling Records continuing the series beyond a second volume.

 

 

 

Works
Revelation Cantata, op. 31 (24.38)
Cantata for the 450th Anniversary of Uppsala University, op. 45 (24.51)

Soloists
Charlotta Larsson, soprano
Fredrik Zetterström, baritone
Peter Boman, bass 

Performers
Malmö Opera Choirs
Malmö Opera Orchestra
Stefan Parkman, conductor

Label: Sterling
Year: 2003
Total Timing: 49.29

 

 

 

 

I might seem picky and lackluster regarding this recording, but I had a good time with this music, and my wife was agog during the 450th Anniversary Cantata.

Minus the billowy acoustic in the Revelation Cantata, the performances and recording are quite fine.