Allan Pettersson - Concerto No. 3 for String Orchestra (Christian Lindberg)

Information

Composer: Allan Pettersson

• (01-03) Concerto No. 3 for String Orchestra

Nordic Chamber Orchestra
Christian Lindberg, conductor

Date: 2010
Label: BIS Records
https://bis.se/composer/pettersson-allan/pettersson-string-concerto-no3

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Review

Slowly and steadily, BIS continues its advocacy of the works of Swedish compatriot Allan Pettersson, a labor of love if ever there were one, since lovable this music certainly is not. The Third String Concerto is a huge work, with two ample quickish movements surrounding a monstrous, 25-minute-long central slow one simply marked "Mesto" (sad). Aside from its length, the music, whether ostensibly quick or slow, largely consists of static ruminations punctuated by abrupt, dissonant outbursts, and the lack of sustained music in quick tempos magnifies the listener's perception of the music's length indefinitely.

You might not find this a recipe for success, but the curious thing is that this awkward piece is much more successful, and more emotionally affecting, than the first two string concertos. Although much shorter, those seem little more than experiments when compared to this piece, in which the mature Pettersson is clearly operating. Despite the angularity of much of the writing, there is also melody, often clearly tonal and quite beautiful, and it always seems to crop up just when the music needs it most. Of course there's no effort to be ingratiating: all of Pettersson's music is heavy-duty stuff--but you won't feel as though he is being gratuitously gnarly, or that your time is being wasted by the merely miserable.

This performance also is much more successful than the competition (on CPO), being better played by the strings of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra, and is considerably quicker in the first two movements. This gives them greater coherence as well as tension--crucial qualities, as I'm sure you will agree, if you're intrepid enough to take the plunge. As usual, the BIS sonics are excellent as well. If you're in the market for this music, this is the recording you will need to own.

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

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Allan Pettersson (19 September 1911 – 20 June 1980) was a Swedish composer and violist. Pettersson studied violin and viola at the conservatory of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and composition in Paris with René Leibowitz, Arthur Honegger, Olivier Messiaen, and Darius Milhaud. Today he is considered one of the most important Swedish composers of the 20th century. His symphonies developed a devoted international following, starting in the final decade of his life. Most of his music has now been recorded at least once and much of it is now available in published score.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Pettersson

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Christian Lindberg (born 15 February 1958 in Danderyd) is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer. Lindberg studied with John Iveson at the Royal College of Music (1979–1980) and with Ralph Sauer and Roger Bobo in Los Angeles (1983). In 2000, Lindberg made his conducting debut with the Northern Sinfonia in the UK and is currently principal conductor of the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also chief conductor of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra (2005–2010) and the Swedish Wind Ensemble (2005–2012). Lindberg has recorded over 60 albums, for BIS and other labels such as Onyx.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Lindberg

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