Henning Kraggerud - Nordic Violin Favourites (2012/2015) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

There was a particularly rich vein of Nordic writing for the violin between the years 1910 and 1930. In this recital Henning Kraggerud, an exemplary stylist lauded for his Sibelius and Sinding concerto album, Naxos 8.557266 and 6.110056 (‘Kraggerud’s performance is superb throughout’ – Classics Today.com), explores this memorable repertoire. It ranges from Halvorsen’s folk-flecked Norwegian Dance to Stenhammar’s passionate Sentimental Romances. Late romanticism floods Sinding’s Abendstimmung whilst Sibelius’s Six Humoresques remain a masterpiece of the genre. The earlier works of Ole Bull illustrate the brilliance and panache of ‘The Nordic Paganini’.

'Music largely drawn from Nordic composers writing between 1910 and 1930. It was a period when they were adding to the wealth of violin music available, though only Sibelius’s Six Humoresques has become common currency on the international stage. Here the young Norwegian violinist, Henning Kraggerud, makes out a very persuasive case for a whole generation that followed on the father of violin music in Norway, Ole Bull, whose Los Recuerdos de la Habana and A Mountain Vision are also included in his programme. Maybe there is nothing profound in the twenty-one tracks, for this is music simply for your pleasure. There is a world premiere recording with Kurt Atterberg’s three-movement Suite No. 3, and I do not recall ever having heard on disc Carl Olsen’s charming Six Old Villiage Songs from Lom in Norway. Of the Sibelius, this is a top recommendation, supplanting by long favoured old LP from Aaron Rosand. Christian Sinding’s Evening Mood is a piece of sheer rapture, and I much commend to you Johan Halvorsen’s sprightly Third Norwegian Dance. Playing a quite fabulous Guarneri violin of 1744, Kraggerud charms the ear with the most smooth and gorgeous tonal quality, though when needed both he and the instrument can produce the technical fireworks. The provincial Swedish chamber orchestra, DalaSinfoniettan will be a major discovery for many, their chief conductor, Bjarte Engeset, obtaining refined playing and I very much hope we hear more on disc from the ensemble. An album of pure pleasure.' (David Denton, David's Review Corner, May 2012)

Tracklist:
1. No. 1. Andante
2. No. 2. Lento
3. No. 3. Allegro moderato
4. No. 4. Allegretto
5. No. 5. Andante
6. No. 6. Moderato
7. I. Prelude: Adagio
8. II. Pantomim: Moderato
9. III. Vision: Allegro moderato
10. No. 1 in A Major
11. No. 2 in F Minor
12. Recuerdos de Habana
13. Et Saeterbesog (A Mountain Vision) (version for violin and string orchestra)
14. Norwegian Dance No. 3
15. Humoresque No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 87, No. 1
16. Humoresque No. 2 in D Major, Op. 87, No. 2
17. Humoresque No. 3 in G Minor, Op. 89a
18. Humoresque No. 4 in G Minor, Op. 89b
19. Humoresque No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 89c
20. Humoresque No. 6 in G Minor, Op. 89d
21. Abendstimmung, Op. 120a

Personnel:
Henning Kraggerud, violin
DalaSinfoniettan
Bjarte Engeset, conductor