Amongst all the recent discussion-some of which I initiated-about the health of the Symphony as we progress into the 21st century and whether or not there are any great modern symphonists there has been mention of British composers(like Maxwell Davies, McCabe and David Matthews) and Finns(like Rautavaara, Sallinen, Aho and other younger composers) but we may have forgotten two Norwegian composers of symphonies, both of whom I regard as of enormous ability: Soderlind and Halvor Haug.
Neither has received anything like the exposure which they so richly deserve.
Haug has only written 2 symphonies in the last twenty years and I have been totally unable to hear either :(
Soderlind is probably more of a "neo-romantic" and is now up to-I think-eight symphonies(the Symphony No.8 "Jean Sibelius in memoriam" was written in 2004-05). This last symphony, like its big predecessors, Symphonies Nos. 6 "Todesahnung" and No.7 "La Campane dell'Atlantico" have not been recorded (which is an absolute disgrace in my opinion). Aurora recorded Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 4 but seem to have abandoned Soderlind since then.
I wrote lengthy posts about both composers in another place and I am not going to repeat myself here but if you doubt my word please give Symphony No.5 "Kvitsunn" a listen. I am going to put a link in the UC Reposts section :)
Not only is it a splendidly neo-romantic and eminently accessible work but it has one of the most magical last six minutes of any modern symphony I know. After 22 minutes of anger and turmoil the symphony concludes in blissful peace and tranquillity, albeit an somewhat uneasy and maybe even troubled peace.
Anyone who admires the modern but essentially tonal symphony should be impressed. It is at least as good as anything written by Rautavaara....yet the Finn has been lauded to the skies and is recorded by Ondine whereas Soderlind has been shamefully neglected on disc.
I do not own anything by Soderlind. I will investigate Symphony 5. Thanks for that. I will say I adore Haug's Symphony 3 "The Inscrutable Life". What a pleasure.....Neither has received anything like the exposure which they so richly deserve.
Haug has only written 2 symphonies in the last twenty years and I have been totally unable to hear either :(
Soderlind is probably more of a "neo-romantic" and is now up to-I think-eight symphonies(the Symphony No.8 "Jean Sibelius in memoriam" was written in 2004-05). This last symphony, like its big predecessors, Symphonies Nos. 6 "Todesahnung" and No.7 "La Campane dell'Atlantico" have not been recorded (which is an absolute disgrace in my opinion). Aurora recorded Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 4 but seem to have abandoned Soderlind since then.
I wrote lengthy posts about both composers in another place and I am not going to repeat myself here but if you doubt my word please give Symphony No.5 "Kvitsunn" a listen. I am going to put a link in the UC Reposts section :)
Not only is it a splendidly neo-romantic and eminently accessible work but it has one of the most magical last six minutes of any modern symphony I know. After 22 minutes of anger and turmoil the symphony concludes in blissful peace and tranquillity, albeit an somewhat uneasy and maybe even troubled peace.
Anyone who admires the modern but essentially tonal symphony should be impressed. It is at least as good as anything written by Rautavaara....yet the Finn has been lauded to the skies and is recorded by Ondine whereas Soderlind has been shamefully neglected on disc.
Robert