Wilhelm Stenhammar: Symphony No.2; Excelsior! (Overture) - Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Petter Sundkvist

Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927)

Symphony No.2; Excelsior! (Overture)

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Petter Sundkvist

This is marvelous Symphony. It is direct in utterance; the melodic invention is fresh and abundant, and the generosity of spirit it radiates is heart-warming. The recording is vivid and full-bodied even by the digital standards of today: as sound, this record is absolutely first class. Petter Sundkvist’s account too is absolutely first class interpretatively, though it is rather let down by the quality of sound, which does not match that of hid Stockholm rivals. It is a meticulous, dedicated account, which radiates and understanding of and love for this music. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra respond with enthusiasm.

Wilhelm Stenhammar: Songs - von Otter; Hagegard

Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927): 

Sanger / Songs

Anne Sofie von Otter

Hakan Hagegar, Bengt Forsberg, Thomas Schuback.

Von Otter & Hagegard Do Stenhammar Proud

By Ronald Gold on August 21, 2013

Wilhelm Stenhammar had a surge of popularity some years ago, but has fallen back to the fringes of the repertory of late. This is really too bad, because Stenhammar may be Sweden's greatest composer, and his combination of lyricism and intellectual rigor is likely to appeal to a wide spectrum of current listeners. Of special note are these extraordinarily attractive songs, related only tangentially to the contemporaneous German lied.