Mats Norrman <[log in to unmask]> replying to Bert Bailey
<[log in to unmask]>:

>What I recommend is the symphonies; again very dramatic, powerful
>music, with bold accords and burning of fire.  I have the CPO set of the
>symphonies, and I like them very much, especially symphonies 1 & 3.  They
>are well worth investigating!

I only know the 2nd symphony from the CPO series, whereas I discovered
No. 1 by Leif Segerstam's version, No.  3 by Janos Furst (both released
on EMI Sweden LPs and now available on a Sterling CD), and No. 4 by Yuri
Ahronovitch (Caprice CD).  Jurowski's 2nd on CPO is a refined rendition,
but maybe a bit heavy at times.  The 1st by Segerstam is often
breathtakingly beautiful, and you certainly need a sense of urgency, of
"vision" in such fragmentary works.  Furst's 3rd is very vivid as well,
but the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra from those years might sound a bit
uneven to some, especially listeners who are used to smooth, clean (and
sometimes neutral) American orchestral playing.  Ahronovitch's 4th is
impressive, almost brutally contrasted, which makes the central intermezzo
all the more delicate and haunting.  It is coupled with a delicious
miniature orchestral suite "Vauxhall".

However, Jurowski's set should be good, Mats will probably be able to give
you a comparative opinion between the available versions.  Rangstrom's
symphonies are probably not as polished as Atterberg's, but they may be
stronger in content (although Atterberg's 3rd and 5th are wonderful as
well), obviously written down under some spell of inspiration.  No. 1 is
my favourite, but all four are definitely worth investigating.

Best wishes,

Thanh-Tam Le
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