BFO OG NORDHEIM

Arne Nordheim var Norges fremste og mest respekterte komponist fram til sin død i 2010, og en av få skikkelser i vestlig samtidsmusikk som var i stand til å bevege seg bort fra tradisjonelle harmoniske relasjoner samtidig som han bevarte en distinkt evne til å kommunisere bredt med sin slående, fysiske musikk. 

Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester har vært langt fra uimottakelig for denne musikkens krefter. Orkesteret var en forkjemper for den gjennom hele komponistens liv, og sto for urframføringen av hans første orkesterverk, Canzona, og også det siste, Fonos. Orkesteret har hatt en rekke framføringer av Nordheims orkesterverker og har spilt inn Tenebrae (cellokonsert), Aurora og Wirklicher Wald. I 1992 sto Nordheim i fokus under Festspillene i Bergen, da orkesteret urframførte Magic Island, en revidert versjon av Be Not Afeard (utgangspunktet for Stormen).

Nordheims musikk til Stormen maner fram en musikalsk verden like flyktig som Shakespeares sceniske motstykke – en verden der tiden slik vi kjenner den, knapt nok eksisterer, på linje med en rekke andre holdepunkter (blant annet tekst). Det er en verden av «forvandlet, harmonerende lyrisk karakter», for å sitere en kritiker, der vi tydelig kan høre Nordheims sentrale kreative trang til å forene enkelt, forståelig materiale med sine egne utstrakte planer og teknikker. For dirigenten Edward Gardner trekker prosessen oss inn i en «vakker, forførende verden» og musikk med «en glød som bare kan være Nordheims». Den norske sopranen Beate Mordal og den engelske barytonen Jeremy Carpenter bidrar som solister i dette mesterverket fra vår egen tid.

 

THE BERGEN PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS ARNE NORDHEIM’S THE TEMPEST

Arne Nordheim was Norway’s most significant and respected composer until his death in 2010, and one of the few figures in contem­porary western music who proved himself able to move beyond traditional harmonic re­lationships while maintaining a distinct ability to communicate widely through his striking, physical music.

The Bergen Philharmonic has been far from immune to that music’s power, championing it throughout the composer’s lifetime and premiering his first orchestral work, Canzona, as well as his last, Fonos. It has given multiple performances of Nordheim’s orchestral works and has recorded Tenebrae (Cello Concerto), Aurora and Wirkli­cher Wald. In 1992, Nordheim was the subject of a special focus at the Bergen International Festival, where the orchestra premiered Magic Island – a revised version of Be Not Afeard (the starting point for The Tempest).

Nordheim’s music for The Tempest is the conjuring of a musical realm as elusive as Shakespeare’s stage equivalent – one in which time as we know it, along with so many other anchors (including text) barely exists. It is a world of ‘transfigured, consonant lyricism’ to quote on critic, in which we clearly hear Nordheim’s central creative urge to reconcile simple, lucid material with his own protracted schemes and techniques. For conductor Edward Gardner, the process draws us into a ‘beautiful, seductive world’ and music possessed of ‘a glow that can only be Nordheim’s.’ Norwegian soprano Beate Mordal and English baritone Jeremy Carpenter contribute as soloists to this contemporary masterpiece.

 

REVIEWS/ANMELDELSER

"The sublime orchestral playing makes a deep impression, as does the way in which Gardner has given color and flourish to this extremely complex score. The recording is excellent." Aart van der Wal, Opus Klassiek

"This contemporary piece scored for orchestra, electronics and two voices is one of the most unusual takes on Shakespeare’s The Tempest yet to appear. It may not displace such previous entries as the Sibelius orchestral suite, but will tickle the aural palettes of the adventurous." Barry, Forshaw, CDChoice UK, 02.02.2023

"This is a phenomenal disc - and if it's your introduction to Nordheim, what a way to start! Gardner pinpoints the visceral nature of the music, projecting its elementalism, while also maintaining maximal clairity. The lyrical panel that contrasts with the energy of the first part of this movement is remarkable, massively expressive and featuring superbly played solo strings.” Colin Clarke, classicalexplorer.com, 24.02.2023

"The music receives a terrific performance from Gardner and the orchestra, he manages to bring a glorious clarity and transparency to Nordheim's writing so that much of the music seems to shimmer and even the most complex and hard-edged moments are clear. Because this music is rooted in a rather free interpretation of a familiar drama, there is an approachable element to the piece that perhaps makes it an ideal introduction to Nordheim's sound world. And once you hear it, I guarantee you'll be seduced." Robert Hugill, planethugill.com, 08.03.2023

“A marvellous recording: I urge everyone to buy this and be enraptured. [...] The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra have a long tradition of Nordheim performances and, with a well-prepared Edward Gardner at the helm, provide an even more gripping account than did the South West German Radio Orchestra 42 years earlier. Beate Mordal and Jeremy Carpenter are more beautifully balanced within the ensemble, captured by LAWO’s superb sound." Gramophone Magazine, Maby 2023

From the Editors Choice page: “The suite from Arne Nordheim’s ballet The Tempest is beautifully performed by Edward Gardner and his Bergen PO.”