Category: SACD

Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony 4 & 16 (2014)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson was a dedicated symphonist, composing 15 symphonies after his unfinished Symphony No. 1 (1951), plus a fragment of another by his death in 1980. Apart from six non-symphonic works, he nearly always had a symphony in progress. The gap before Symphony No. 4 was likely due to the poor reception of Symphony No. 3’s 1956 premiere. Unlike the four-movement Symphony No. 3, No. 4 adopts a single-movement structure, a format Pettersson favored after his Symphony No. 2. Symphony No. 4 features long, chorale-like passages alongside modernist elements, possibly reflecting his mother’s religious songs. Pettersson dedicated the work to his mother, noting in his journal her embodiment of goodness. Symphony No. 16, composed in 1979 for saxophonist Frederick L. Hemke, includes a prominent alto saxophone solo. Its “jazz-scented” slow section follows a frenetic opening, resolving in a tonal, peaceful conclusion. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, joined by saxophonist Jörgen Pettersson, deliver a critically acclaimed performance. Their recording continues their celebrated cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, showcasing the works’ stylistic duality and emotional depth.

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Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 9 (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson composed his Ninth Symphony in 1970, following the triumphant 1968 premiere of his Seventh under Antal Dorati. This success brought him greater recognition, but his health worsened, leading to a nine-month hospitalization after completing the Ninth. The symphony, his longest at 65–80 minutes, is a single-movement work depicting an extended struggle toward harmony. Pettersson believed fighting through a symphony’s challenges should ultimately yield consonance, even if it takes hours. In the Ninth, harmony is achieved in the final two chords, forming a plagal “Amen” cadence in F major. The work is more concise in its resolution than his other symphonies. Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, completing their BIS cycle of Pettersson’s symphonies, have earned critical acclaim. Their recording of the Sixth Symphony was praised for capturing Pettersson’s dark atmosphere and pacing its climaxes superbly. The Ninth continues their empathetic interpretation of his singular musical vision. This release is a fitting capstone to their acclaimed series.

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Title: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Christian Lindberg – Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 13 (2015)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Allan Pettersson focused almost exclusively on symphonies from 1951 until his death in 1980, despite the genre’s declining popularity. Called “the last symphonist” in 1960s Sweden, he completed his Symphony No. 13 in 1976 for the Bergen Festival’s 25th anniversary. Its complexity delayed the premiere until 1978, and it wasn’t performed in Sweden until 2014 by Christian Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. The single-movement work blends atonal and tonal styles, a hallmark of Pettersson’s music. It features allusions to composers like Beethoven and Shostakovich, including the latter’s D-S-C-H cryptogram. The symphony showcases Pettersson’s commitment to the genre’s expressive potential. Lindberg and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra have a strong affinity for Pettersson’s music, evident across their recordings. This performance highlights their deepening connection to his challenging, large-scale works.

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