Leifs: Baldr, Op. 34

Featuring

Kari Kropsu
Gunnar Gudbjörnsson
Hörður Áskelsson
Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis
Jón Leifs

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

Jón Leifs never heard or saw a full performance of his ambitious work Baldr, Op. 34, during his lifetime.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Jón Leifs conceived Baldr as a protest against the misuse of Nordic traditions, specifically referencing Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle and the Nazi appropriation of Nordic culture.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Jón Leifs incorporated a volcanic eruption into the final scene of Baldr, inspired by the 1947 Mount Hekla eruption, marking his first attempt to depict fierce natural powers in music.

Historical Context

Jón Leifs, an Icelandic composer, was considered a persona non grata in Nazi Germany during World War II due to his 'primitive' music and his Jewish wife.

Compositional Technique

The score for Baldr includes an extended percussion section featuring anvils, pistols, cannons, rocks, and metal chains, which was a new development in Jón Leifs' instrumentation.

Historical Context

The evil character Loki in Baldr is a personification of Germany, transforming into the Prussian Eagle, a symbol of German military power, after conjuring a hurricane.