Svendsen's First Symphony was dedicated to Carl F. Leche, the Swedish-Norwegian consul in Lübeck, who had previously helped Svendsen secure a scholarship from the king when he was stranded and losing hope.
Compositional Technique
Svendsen's solo concertos, including the Violin Concerto on this album, emphasize symphonic aspects and the integration of the solo instrument with the orchestra, rather than pure virtuosity.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Johan Svendsen was captivated by new trends in European music, particularly those represented by Berlioz, Liszt, and Wagner, and experimented with challenging traditional forms.
Recording & Production
This Chandos recording utilizes 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Composer Biography
Johan Svendsen made important contacts during his travels, including Richard and Cosima Wagner, who became godparents to his wife Sarah (Bergljot) and her son from a previous marriage.
Composer Biography
Johan Svendsen, the composer, was forced to abandon a career as a violinist due to a chronic affliction in his left little finger, leading him to focus entirely on composition.
Performer Biography
Marianne Thorsen, the violinist on this recording, plays the 'Emiliani' Stradivari violin, arranged through the Leif Hoegh Foundation.
You might also enjoy...
Dutilleux: Concertos - Orchestral Works
Adams: Shaker Loops
Gaubert: Orchestral Works, Vol. 3
Harty: Orchestral Works
The Sibelius Edition, Vol. 8: Orchestral Works
Gipps: Orchestral Works Vol. 3
American and English Orchestral Music
Toru Takemitsu: Orchestral Works
Barber: Adagio for Strings
Papadimitriou: Orchestral Works
Bainton, E.L.: Concerto Fantasia / 3 Pieces / Pavane, Idyll and Bacchanal / The Golden River
