In 1976, Willi Boskovsky, unusually perhaps, made a lovely Grieg recording for Decca. About a third of it was briefly issued in the 1980s on Decca’s ‘Headline’ series but now, for the first time, we offer the whole record with the bonus of Stanley Black’s recording of the four ‘Lyric Pieces’ (on CD for the first time) and the very young Charles Mackerras conducting ‘Wedding Day at Troldhaugen’. The superb Decca sonics – vividly jumping out of the speakers – add considerably to the enjoyment of the performances.
EDVARD GRIEG
Holberg Suite, Op. 40
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34
Two Nordic Melodies, Op. 63
The death of Aase (from Peer Gynt, Op. 23)
Ceremonial March (from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56)
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Willi Boskovsky
FIRST RELEASE ON CD
Lyric Pieces, Op. 54
London Symphony Orchestra
Stanley Black
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
London Proms Symphony Orchestra
Charles Mackerras
‘an attractive Grieg program and the recording is both rich and brilliant … played with sympathy and taste’ Penguin Guide
‘This collection is beautifully performed’ ClassicsToday.com
‘the performances are all very good … a worthwhile introduction to Grieg’s music’ International Record Review
‘a most pleasant selection of Grieg miniatures played with sympathy and taste’ [Mackerras] Penguin Guide