Børresen, Hakon

Hakon Børresen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
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    		Hakon Børresen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
    Borresen
    Manufacturer: Da Capo [Naxos]
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00000467S
    Release Date: 2000-10-05

    Tracks:

    1. Symphony No. 2 In A Major, Op. 7 (The Sea): (Surf) Allegro con brio
    2. Symphony No. 2 In A Major, Op. 7 (The Sea): (Summer) Molto vivace
    3. Symphony No. 2 In A Major, Op. 7 (The Sea): (Tragdy) Adagio maestoso
    4. Symphony No. 2 In A Major, Op. 7 (The Sea): (Cruising) Poco andante - Allegro con fuoco
    5. Symphony No. 3 In C Major, Op. 21: Andante - Allegro con moto - Piu lento
    6. Symphony No. 3 In C Major, Op. 21: Adagio
    7. Symphony No. 3 In C Major, Op. 21: Allegretto moderato
    8. Symphony No. 3 In C Major, Op. 21: Rondo
    Hakon Børresen: The Royal Guest
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A Delightful Danish One-Act Comic Opera
    		 Hakon Børresen: The Royal Guest

    Manufacturer: Marco Polo
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0007KT11W
    Release Date: 2005-03-22

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A Delightful Danish One-Act Comic Opera.......2005-03-24

    Hakon Borresen (1876-1954; you have to imagine the 'o' in his last name with a slanted line through it, the Danish equivalent of 'ö') was the last Romantic holdout among Danish composers. He was eleven years younger than the forward-looking Nielsen but he continued throughout his life composing in a style that would not have seemed amiss in 1910. He wrote in a musical language rather similar to that of Grieg or Johann Svendsen - the latter his musical godfather - with a good bit of Richard Strauss thrown in. Borresen's music is unfailingly tonal, unfailingly lush, and he was a master orchestrator and characterizer of moods. This work, his one-act 1919 comic opera ('Den kongelige gaest' in Danish) that still holds the boards in his native land, is probably his best-known, although he wrote three fine symphonies, a violin concerto, two string quartets and lovely string sextet, all of which have been recorded. Strangely the otherwise very informative booklet notes for this recording say that Borresen was not a good melodist, but in fact this opera is chockful of hummable melodies. It is true that the opera does not have any set pieces--arias, duets, etc.--as it is a 'conversation opera,' rather like Strauss's later 'Intermezzo,' but the characters sing in an arioso style throughout.

    The plot is fairly simple. To quote the booklet notes, '[The opera] is a little fable about how art and love can transform people and change their lives. The main characters are a married couple [a country doctor and his wife] who are visited in their quiet, static home by a mysterious, effusive guest. With his message of joie de vivre and love he breathes new life into the couple he visits.' The title comes from the guest's play-acting that he is 'Prince Carnival' (the opera takes place during the Carnival ['fastelavn' in Danish, 'Fasching' in German] season). It is based on a short-story by Danish writer Henrik Pontoppidan, who had won the Nobel Prize for Literature only two years before the opera was written.

    This is a chamber opera, with no chorus and only five characters--the doctor and his wife, the 'Royal Guest,' and two servants. The Danish libretto by Svend Leopold is both witty and philosophical. One can follow the Danish easily in the Danish/English/German libretto provided in the booklet. But one can also get a general idea of the action and simply sit back and enjoy this extremely lovely and high-spirited music. There is an overture that makes use of several of the melodies found in the opera proper; it is sometimes played in concert programs.

    The performance is marvelous. The singers are all from the Royal Danish Opera. Doctor Hoyer is sung by tenor Stig Fogh Andersen who sings, among other things, Peter Grimes and Verdi's Otello. Mrs Hoyer is a soprano who sings such roles as Agathe in 'Freischütz' and the Marschallin in 'Rosenkavalier.' The Royal Guest is baritone Guido Paevatalu who sings most of the Verdi and Mozart baritone roles at the Danish Opera. The two servants are well-taken but fairly minor roles. The orchestra is the fine Odense Symphony under Tams Vet, a Hungarian conductor who has been resident in Copenhagen for forty years, much of that time conductor at the Royal Danish Opera. It is clear that this opera is well-loved and well-served by these musicians. I had never heard it before, but was familiar with Borresen's orchestral and chamber music, so I thought I knew what to expect, but I was bowled over by the lightness and joy of the music and its performance.

    I would recommend this single-CD set to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of opera from Scandinavia, a genre that can provide many rewards.

    TT=79:20

    Scott Morrison
    Børresen: Orchestral Works
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Børresen: Orchestral Works

      Manufacturer: Da Capo [Naxos]
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
      SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B00001NTOC
      Release Date: 1999-09-28

      Tracks:

      1. Prelude To 'The Royal Guest'
      2. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Allegro Festivo
      3. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Allegro
      4. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Svaerddans-Allegro (Sword Dance)
      5. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Skotsk Dans (Scottish Dance)
      6. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Redderdans (Knights' Dance)
      7. Bondedans (Peasants' Dance)
      8. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Allegro Festivo
      9. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Bondegilde (Peasants' Festivites) - Allegro (Dance No. 1) - Allegro vivace (Dance No. 2) - Allegro vivace (Dance No. 3)
      10. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Andante - Adagio
      11. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Tycho Brahes Drom - Andante Con Moto (Tycho Brahe's Dream)
      12. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Stjernernes Dans - Allegretto (Dance Of Stars)
      13. Music For The Ballet 'At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's Dream': Allegro Molto - Adagio
      14. Romance For Cello And Piano, Op. 4
      Hakon Børresen: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 1
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Hakon Børresen: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 1
        Borresen
        Manufacturer: Da Capo [Naxos]
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B00000467Q
        Release Date: 2000-10-05

        Tracks:

        1. Vn Con in G, Op.11: Intro-Allegro moderato
        2. Vn Con in G, Op.11: Adagio
        3. Vn Con in G, Op.11: Molto vivace
        4. Sym No.1 in c: Lento-Allegro moderato
        5. Sym No.1 in c: Allegretto sostenuto
        6. Sym No.1 in c: Allegro molto e scherzando
        7. Sym No.1 in c: Adagio lamentabile

        Music Composers:

        1. Bortniansky, Dmitri
        2. Borup-Jørgensen, Axel
        3. Boublil, Alain
        4. Boulanger, Lili
        5. Boulez, Pierre
        6. Boyce, William
        7. Brahms, Johannes
        8. Bretón, Tomás
        9. Brian, Havergal
        10. Bridge, Frank

        Music Composers

        Music Composers