Atterberg: Violin Concerto

 

Kurt Atterberg's Violin Concerto in E minor is a fully Romantic work, one with oodles of passion and various emotional temperaments. While most would point to the Violin Concerto in D minor of Jean Sibelius as an easy comparison, personally, it was Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto which surprisingly came to mind on occasion.

Truthfully, the first movement could have been a one-movement concerto all in itself, for it has a wide variety of ideas, splayed out across 14 minutes, including a lengthy cadenza. While the middle movement is sweeter and less overtly aggressive than the opening movement, Atterberg reminds listeners of his overall E-minor key within a contrasting section at the center. The last movement is a bit too similar to the first in my opinion, which now turns rather gruff and grim at times, yet I almost yearn for something completely different at this point. Do I hear a hint of musical exotica in one of the contrasting episodes as well?

Swedish violinist Ulf Wallin does a wonderful job with the solo role, ably pulling me along Atterberg's nearly 40-minute Violin Concerto. It is a good thing too, for Atterberg very rarely allows the violin soloist a break during the runtime. The winds of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra are a little too far flung back behind the upfront soloist to catch every minute detail and rhythmic motions from those instruments, although the strings and brass fare better.

The early Overture in A minor is easily satisfying, if not a tad clunky and overlong. If anything, the Overture reminded me of the orchestral sounds of Antonín Dvořák on multiple occasions, with some modalisms providing colorful interest. 

On the other hand, Atterberg's Värmlands Rhapsody is simply to die for. While the composer's Fourth & Eighth Symphonies based on Swedish folk songs didn't create much fire for me, his Rhapsody works wonders. When Atterberg overlaps his melodic ideas at the end ala Vaughan Williams or Holst, I am completely taken in! Roger Epple's unhurried pace in the Rhapsody and the depth of sound from the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra are both gorgeous aspects of this performance.

 

 

Works
Overture in A minor, op. 4 (13.18)
Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 7 (37.03)
Värmlands Rhapsody, op. 36 (9.05)

Soloists
Ulf Wallin, violin (VC)

Performers
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Roger Epple, conductor

Label: CPO
Year: 2006
Total Timing: 59.26

While Atterberg's lone Violin Concerto is solid, I don't think it will become a new favorite of mine.

Greeting the composer's orchestral-only Värmlands Rhapsody, however, was worth the visit either way.

The performances are excellent!

Find more Atterberg recordings HERE!