JOHAN SVENDSEN (1840-1911): Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 - Violin Concerto in A, Op. 6, Symphony No. 1 in D, Op. 4, 2 Icelandic Melodies for String Orchestra, Norwegian Artists' Carnival, Op. 14.

Description: Lots of Svendsen symphony recordings over the last 20 years; more than anyone would have believed in, say, 1970. But there's only one elderly stereo (NKF) and one mono (Danacord) recording of the violin concerto which, like its coeval cello concerto (both were completed in 1870), remains mystifyingly obscure. Also like the cello concerto, it eschews the "soloist vs. orchestra" Romantic ideal in favor of exchanges of ideas between violin and orchestra supported by various elegant textural and timbral effects in the latter. Marianne Thorsen (violin), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Neeme Järvi.