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BIS-2420
Originally recorded in 2019
Classical
Orchestral & Concertos
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About
The music of Jón Leifs is often inspired by Iceland’s powerful nature and literary heritage. From early on he was profoundly influenced by the medieval tradition of Icelandic literature, preserved in a handful of manuscripts, including the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. Leifs’ magnum opus is the Edda oratorio, a massive (although incomplete) work in three large parts which occupied him on and off for most of his composing career – from around 1930 to his death in 1968. A partial performance of Edda I – The Creation of the World – met with incomprehension, and Leifs only resumed work on his great project a decade later, completing the second part – The Lives of the Gods – in 1966. He immediately started on the third part of the oratorio, and was still working on it at the time of his death. Neither of the two finished parts were performed in his lifetime, Edda I receiving its first complete performance in 2006 and Edda II in 2018, in conjunction with the recording of the present disc. Leifs’ music is as ruggedly grandiose as its subject matter and the score calls for vocal soloists, choir and large orchestra, making huge demands on the performers. Once again the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the intrepid Schola Cantorum join forces under the baton of conductor Hermann Bäumer, following up on their acclaimed recording of Edda I, which was described by reviewers as ‘one of the recording events of the year’ (Gramophone) and ‘splendid in its craggy and intensely individual lyricism and magnificence’ (MusicWeb-International.com).
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Reviews
Interpretation **** Sound Quality ***** Repertoire Value *** Booklet ****
“…it is an important music-historical document that in its own way offers the listener the luxurious listening pleasure of an alternative Nordic modernism.”
Richard Hanlon - Recording of the year 2019
“Over more than two decades Robert von Bahr has been single-minded in his proselytizing on behalf of another figure whose reputation has been unfairly compromised by what might be viewed as an accident of geography. His BIS label’s impressive edition devoted to the Icelander Jón Leifs reached its thirteenth volume with the release of the second part of Leifs’ monumental Edda trilogy. This is an extraordinary disc whose outstanding sound (in both stereo and surround) gets closer to Leifs’ impossible sonic ambitions (and unique approach to orchestral and choral colour) than any of the previous issues, impressive as they are. This is a visceral experience indeed – the magnificent new Harpa hall in Reykjavik providing an awesome acoustic to match the characteristically full-bodied BIS engineering. The performances by the Icelandic forces and soloists under Hermann Bäumer are also world class.”
“Jon Leifs was Iceland’s first national composer. The second part of the Edda oratorio is powerful and directly conveys the image of Iceland’s rugged nature. The vocal soloists, the choir and also the Iceland Symphony Orchestra perfectly know how to present this music convincingly. “ ****
“… Not a neglected masterpiece, perhaps, but well worth hearing nonetheless; also, the inspired playing and singing are superbly rendered.”
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