Magnus Lindberg: Orchestral Music

The Sunday Times, London
The prolific Finn is among the doughtiest writers for large orchestra. This compilation allows one to trace a development from the madcap modernism of Kraft to the eloquent, if thwacking, concision of the two Correntes, and the ceremonious directness of Sculpture.

Pizzicato
Lindberg's music is a powerful feast for the ears, and should convince any skeptic of contemporary music.

MusicWeb International
There's a good English and Finnish booklet by Kimmi Korhonen which tells you what you want to know at about the right pace and length.

Avant-garde origins never quite let go - why should they - but brilliance, fantastic imaginative orchestra textures and Stravinskian mulch all add to the draw of this music.

American Record Guide
One thing all those composers have in common is that undefinable thing called "character", which makes their "greatness" clearly identifiable. Although Lindberg's music does have a clear "Scandinavian" character, it lacks that "arresting" element that captivates the attention and makes you want to return to the work again and again. "Approachable" or not, this is extremely dense, unrelievedly demanding music that will likely have a healthy future in academia, but I wonder how the picky Philharmonic audiences (and players) will take to it over time. Granted, readers are not required to devote 4-1/2 hours to it as I had to for the last couple of weeks, but it can become trying in large doses. Given the composer's newfound stature, though, I do highly recommend making up your own mind, and this set, with its magnificent sonics and outstanding performances, is as good a place to start as any.

Reviews

Modernism with Heart

Magnus Lindberg is one of the most original and significant yet least intimidating orchestral composers of the 20th century. This magnificent four-CD box set amply showcases his music, which takes the listener on a complex yet accessible voyage full of color, movement, emotion and sensuality. His orchestral drama and virtuosity recalls Stravinsky; his icy tonalities and atonalities rival those of Ligeti (especially in his string passages). Lindberg�s great gift, however, is to make elaborate and sophisticated sound structures unfold in completely natural and organic fashion. The 15 collected works range from the early 1980s to the present, and reflect a constantly evolving, yet artistically consistent approach. Each piece, no matter how abstract, manifests unshakeable structural logic and unity. And while much alternative classical tends to be emotionally arid, Lindberg�s music is always deeply moving. The aptly named �Joy,� a work for chamber orchestra and electronics, is a perfect example of Lindberg�s gift for insinuating melodic beauty and emotional consonance within adventurous, avant-garde settings. It�s but one of the many staggering pieces on offer, all of them given superb interpretations by the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, the Toimii Ensemble, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, guided variously by conductors Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Esa-Pekka Salonen. One cannot overstate their collective artistry or the historical and aesthetic importance of this compilation. This treasure trove of music would be a steal at twice the price.
Submitted on 05/23/11 by Dean Brierly

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Works Details

Lindberg, Magnus : Tendenza, for chamber orchestra

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 12 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1982

Lindberg, Magnus : Kraft for orchestra

Conductor: Esa-Pekka Salonen
Ensemble: Toimii Ensemble
Running Time: 30 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1983-1985

Lindberg, Magnus : Kinetics, for orchestra

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 12 min. 48 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1988-1989

Lindberg, Magnus : Marea, for orchestra

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 10 min. 30 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1989-1990

Lindberg, Magnus : Joy, for ensemble & electronics

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 26 min. 48 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1990

Lindberg, Magnus : Corrente (Pour Ensemble)

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 10 min. 58 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1991

Lindberg, Magnus : Corrente II for orchestra

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 16 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1992

Lindberg, Magnus : Coyote Blues, for chamber orchestra

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 11 min. 53 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1993

Lindberg, Magnus : Arena for orchestra

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 15 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1995

Lindberg, Magnus : Arena 2, for 16 instruments

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 15 min. 9 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1996

Lindberg, Magnus : Feria for orchestra

Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Running Time: 17 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 1997

Lindberg, Magnus : Gran Duo, for 13 winds & 11 brass

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 19 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Lindberg, Magnus : Chorale, for orchestra

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 6 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary

Lindberg, Magnus : Concerto for orchestra

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 30 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 2003

Lindberg, Magnus : Sculpture

Conductor: Sakari Oramo
Running Time: 22 min. 56 sec.
Period Time: Contemporary
Written: 2005

Reviews

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