Poul Rovsing Olsen: Piano Concerto; Symphonic Variations; Au Fond de la Nuit / Christina Bjorkoe, piano

Poul Rovsing Olsen: Piano Concerto; Symphonic Variations; Au Fond de la Nuit / Chr
Click image for a larger version

Label: Dacapo
Catalog No: DACO 8226038
Format: CD
Release Date: 2012-10-30
Number of Discs: 1
Running time: 59 min.
Mono/Stereo: Stereo
UPC Code: 636943603826

Free Freight is AvailableFreeFreight Is Available. Click for Details
List Price: $18.99    Your Price: $16.99
In Stock, usually ships in 24 hours *

HBDirect Recommended Recording
Add To Basket

Login or Create an Account to write a review
> Symphonic Variations, Op. 27 - Symphonic Variations, Op. 27
> Piano Concerto, Op. 31 - I. Maestoso
> Piano Concerto, Op. 31 - II. Larghetto
> Piano Concerto, Op. 31 - III. Allegro
> Au fond de la nuit (In the Depth of the Night), Op. 61 - I. L'espace
> Au fond de la nuit (In the Depth of the Night), Op. 61 - II. Betelgeuse
> Au fond de la nuit (In the Depth of the Night), Op. 61 - III. L'astre mort
> Au fond de la nuit (In the Depth of the Night), Op. 61 - IV. Retour

Notes & Reviews:

This world premiere recording of Danish composer Poul Rovsing Olsen's (1922-82) dazzling Concerto pour Piano et Orchestre together with his two major orchestral works Variations Symphoniques and Au Fond de la Nuit features pianist Christina Bjørkøe accompanied by the Odense Symphony Orchestra and conductor Bo Holten.

American Record Guide, March / April 2013
There's plenty of color and variety in his music. This new, exceptionally-well-played-and recorded release presents first recordings of three Olsen orchestral works: Symphonic Variations from 1953, Piano Concerto from 1954, and Au Fond De La Nuit (In the Depth of the Night) from 1968. Every note sounds, everything is a model of clarity. The piano writing is steely and sharply articulated. The music achieves genuine grandeur. Get this for Olsen's Symphonic Variations and Piano Concerto. The really good stuff never ages.

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: Odense Concert Hall (01/31/2011-02/03/2011).



Reviews

Interesting look at this relative unknown
Danish composer Poul Rovsing Olsen (1922-1982) was a bit of a Renaissance man, trained in law as well as in music. He was also a music critic and - as this disc shows - a composer of great talent; having written over eight works in nearly every genre. However, his music was a bit outside of the tide of the avant-garde and he remains a bit of an unknown. This disc is, indeed, a good way to get to know his music. The Symphonic Variations (from 1953) was his first major orchestral work and takes an initial melody and carries it through some tonal transformations, encompassing a twelve-tone row. The whole work, itself, never really dwells in an atonal context and, in fact, the Variations have a spritely and engaging verve to them. This work remains one of Olsen's most played pieces and one can hear why. The Piano Concerto immediately succeeds the Variations in composition sequence and structures the work in a very interesting way. While existing in a traditional three-movement, the role of the piano is really one of with the orchestra. Rather than using some very flourishy dialogue or concertante writing, the piano part is largely a part of the larger texture. Some reviewers have criticized the piano part for, in fact, not being showy enough. I find the sound and feel of the work to be atypical, to be sure, but very entertaining none the less. I especially liked the moody and extended central Larghetto. Au fond de la nuit (In the depth of the night) for chamber orchestra is the composer's musical tribute to the beauty of the night sky. With movements depicting "space", "Betelgeuse" (a prominent red giant star in the belt of the constellation Orion), "dead star" (like the pulsar and its emittent radio waves) and then a "return" to Earth; the work seems like a mysterious circular four movement voyage into out space. This work is the most strangely, but beautifully, orchestrated in this collection and quite mesmerizing. From 1969, this work is also "later" Olsen and shows development in his output over time. For me, I actually found "In the depth of the night" the most interesting work on this disc, although I should think that between all three of these pieces, there is a bit of something for everyone at stake. I would like to hear more from the relatively small collection of recorded works.
Submitted on 11/19/12 by Modern Clarinet Guy 
Login or Create an Account to write a review
 

Also Purchased



Previous

Next


Works Details

>Olsen, Poul Rovsing : Variations symphoniques, for piano, Op. 27
  • Performer: Bo Holten (Piano)
  • Conductor: Bo Holten
  • Ensemble: Odense Symphony Orchestra
  • Notes: Odense Concert Hall (01/31/2011-02/03/2011)
  • Running Time: 16 min. 2 sec.
  • Period Time: Modern
  • Written: 1953

>Olsen, Poul Rovsing : Piano Concerto, Op. 31
  • Performers: Bo Holten (Piano); Christina Bjorkoe (Piano)
  • Notes: Odense Concert Hall (01/31/2011-02/03/2011)
  • Running Time: 28 min. 8 sec.
  • Period Time: Modern
  • Form: Concerto
  • Written: 1953-1954

>Olsen, Poul Rovsing : Au fond de la nuit, for piano
  • Performer: Bo Holten (Piano)
  • Notes: Odense Concert Hall (01/31/2011-02/03/2011)
  • Running Time: 13 min. 48 sec.
  • Period Time: Modern
  • Written: 1968