Pettersson's Pavilion

[Spotted Horses]

I think I can agree. What Pettersson's music doesn't have in it is pretence and falsity, it is direct and clear. At times it seems that this music simply carries him along in its powerful rush, overpowering him, and he merely records what he hears, as in the 9th Symphony.

I can see what you mean, in that Pettersson's symphonies can present themselves as a sort of stream of consciousness, a raw outpouring. But there is some artifice to this. Are we to imagine that he conceived a ~40 minute stream of music, then took years to painstakingly notate it, hobbled by arthritis?

[foxandpeng]

Gloom is not the word, I think, strife is closer to the mark. It calls to mind a remark I remember Leonard Bernstein making in an television program he made discussing Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony. Paraphrasing, he said "people will say that Tchaikovsky was depressed when he wrote this symphony. That is not true. If you are depressed you stay in bed all day, you don't write a symphony."

I recall Peterson often characterizing his work as flowing from his personal struggles and the struggles of common people in an inhospitable world. But in the end the music speaks for itself. A composer may have an idea in mind when writing music, but that doesn't mean that every listener will react to the music the same way.

Yes. This.

Where Pettersson left off, Tabakov continues. He fights. He refuses to give up. He doesn't lie down. He endures. He strives.

Pettersson is inspirational in that regard.

As is Tabakov, with a more existential roar.

[AnotherSpin]

I can see what you mean, in that Pettersson's symphonies can present themselves as a sort of stream of consciousness, a raw outpouring. But there is some artifice to this. Are we to imagine that he conceived a ~40 minute stream of music, then took years to painstakingly notate it, hobbled by arthritis?

That's the exact opposite of what I'm saying - he was not conceiving. Maybe he spent some time and energy on orchestration afterwards. Stream of consciousness as a method has nothing to do with it. ~70 minutes in the case of 9th.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

I received the Pettersson Complete Edition on BIS today and it was business-per-usual for Amazon as they shipped the box set in a bag w/o any support nor was there any bubble wrap --- there was nothing. I contacted Amazon UK and chatted with two associates that gave me the runaround and wouldn't work with me, so I requested to get help through a phone call, which lasted about 12-15 minutes. Long story short (too late for that!), I got the set for free and given a complete refund. So, while the damage to the set was disappointing, less disappointing was the fact that the woman I spoke with was quite nice and fair during our conversation.

Anyway, it's a gorgeous set and the booklet itself will be fun to go through (as will be the music, too, of course). Definitely looking forward to digging into this set.

[foxandpeng]

I received the Pettersson Complete Edition on BIS today and it was business-per-usual for Amazon as they shipped the box set in a bag w/o any support nor was there any bubble wrap --- there was nothing. I contacted Amazon UK and chatted with two associates that gave me the runaround and wouldn't work with me, so I requested to get help through a phone call, which lasted about 12-15 minutes. Long story short (too late for that!), I got the set for free and given a complete refund. So, while the damage to the set was disappointing, less disappointing was the fact that the woman I spoke with was quite nice and fair during our conversation.

Anyway, it's a gorgeous set and the booklet itself will be fun to go through (as will be the music, too, of course). Definitely looking forward to digging into this set.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I know the trilogy of Symphonies Nos. 6-8 rather well, but the rest of the set, in particular, the early and later symphonies, will be, at the very least, a second listen as I went through the CPO set many years ago.

I take it you own this new BIS set?

[foxandpeng]

I know the trilogy of Symphonies Nos. 6-8 rather well, but the rest of the set, in particular, the early and later symphonies, will be, at the very least, a second listen as I went through the CPO set many years ago.

I take it you own this new BIS set?

The Lindberg tend to get the recordings I revisit most often. Like most, I first heard Pettersson via the CPO set, but gravitate increasingly toward the BIS.

I always appreciate your thoughtful insights when you reflect on your listening.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

The Lindberg tend to get the recordings I revisit most often. Like most, I first heard Pettersson via the CPO set, but gravitate increasingly toward the BIS.

I always appreciate your thoughtful insights when you reflect on your listening.

I haven't heard all of Christian Lindberg's Pettersson performances (yet), but have greatly enjoyed his performance of Symphony No. 2 yesterday. I think the CPO set has some fair performances, but the ones that I believe standout as excellent in view are Thomas Sanderling's performance of Symphony No. 10, Manfred Honeck's performance of Symphony No. 12, "The Dead in the Square" and Alun Francis' performance of Symphony No. 13 (but, generally, Alun Francis' performances in the CPO set are quite good). I was less impressed with the performances of Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7.

It would be so cool if we get another Pettersson symphony cycle, but, honestly, I don't think it's going to happen in our lifetime. There might be some individual recordings of the symphonies that pop up, but I don't think any major Pettersson project will happen. I could be wrong, but this is just a feeling I get.

[foxandpeng]

I haven't heard all of Christian Lindberg's Pettersson performances (yet), but have greatly enjoyed his performance of Symphony No. 2 yesterday. I think the CPO set has some fair performances, but the ones that I believe standout as excellent in view are Thomas Sanderling's performance of Symphony No. 10, Manfred Honeck's performance of Symphony No. 12, "The Dead in the Square" and Alun Francis' performance of Symphony No. 13 (but, generally, Alun Francis' performances in the CPO set are quite good). I was less impressed with the performances of Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7.

It would be so cool if we get another Pettersson symphony cycle, but, honestly, I don't think it's going to happen in our lifetime. There might be some individual recordings of the symphonies that pop up, but I don't think any major Pettersson project will happen. I could be wrong, but this is just a feeling I get.

Helpful, thank you.

I try not to collect or listen to multiple recordings of the same work. A couple tends to suffice unless there are huge timing differences. I'm not sure I can always distinguish between lots of performances. The CPO and the Lindberg will suffice for me 🙂

[Le Buisson Ardent]

Helpful, thank you.

I try not to collect or listen to multiple recordings of the same work. A couple tends to suffice unless there are huge timing differences. I'm not sure I can always distinguish between lots of performances. The CPO and the Lindberg will suffice for me 🙂

You've got to at least listen to Segerstam's performances of Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8. You will not be sorry! These are absolutely incredible performances and should be in every Pettersson collection, IMHO.

[foxandpeng]

You've got to at least listen to Segerstam's performances of Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8. You will not be sorry! These are absolutely incredible performances and should be in every Pettersson collection, IMHO.

Agreed. I do listen to these also 🙂. Also, like many, I find 7 and 8 to be amongst my most revisited of the cycle.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

Agreed. I do listen to these also 🙂. Also, like many, I find 7 and 8 to be amongst my most revisited of the cycle.

I'm finding each symphony I revisit to be more rewarding than the last time I listened to them (however many years ago it's been now --- maybe a decade or more). Symphonies Nos. 6-8 are the symphonies I'd recommend to a newcomer, but my hope is they continue exploring his oeuvre. The symphony of Pettersson's that gave me the most difficulty back then was the 9th, but this is before Lindberg recorded the work and the only performance I had on CD was from Alun Francis on CPO. An 'okay' performance, but I imagine the Lindberg will be an ear-opener whenever I get to it in my listening.

[AnotherSpin]

I'm finding each symphony I revisit to be more rewarding than the last time I listened to them (however many years ago it's been now --- maybe a decade or more). Symphonies Nos. 6-8 are the symphonies I'd recommend to a newcomer, but my hope is they continue exploring his oeuvre. The symphony of Pettersson's that gave me the most difficulty back then was the 9th, but this is before Lindberg recorded the work and the only performance I had on CD was from Alun Francis on CPO. An 'okay' performance, but I imagine the Lindberg will be an ear-opener whenever I get to it in my listening.

9th is my favourite, Lindberg conducting.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

9th is my favourite, Lindberg conducting.

Excellent to know. I read some reviews when this Lindberg recording of the 9th was released and all of the reviews mentioned how he nailed it. Looking forward to revisiting this symphony.

[AnotherSpin]

Excellent to know. I read some reviews when this Lindberg recording of the 9th was released and all of the reviews mentioned how he nailed it. Looking forward to revisiting this symphony.

My initial full impression of the 9th was remarkable. As was often the case, I was walking through the cold deserted streets of war in the morning, accompanied by the perpetual motion of sounds from the fine in-ear headphones.

[DavidW]

My favorite block of symphonies is 8-11 and I think the 9th has became my favorite.

[vers la flamme]

5-8 and the VC are the ones for me, 9 has yet to click with me. Maybe I should hear the Lindberg. I also love the 15th.

[Le Buisson Ardent]

5-8 and the VC are the ones for me, 9 has yet to click with me. Maybe I should hear the Lindberg. I also love the 15th.

I have to say I didn't much care for the 5th. I listened to it last night and it seemed kind of half-baked to me. It's like you hear where he is going with his symphonies, but it just hasn't got there yet. Whereas with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, I didn't feel this same kind of feeling at all. The 2nd and 4th were especially good to my ears.

What do you guys think of Symphony No. 12, "The Dead in the Square". For a choral symphony, I find it pretty gnarly and really not far removed from Shostakovich's Babi Yar or one of Penderecki's choral works. I enjoyed this work in the Honeck performance on CPO, but I have yet to listen to the Lindberg or Carl Rune Larsson (on Caprice), which I acquired recently.

[vers la flamme]

I have to say I didn't much care for the 5th. I listened to it last night and it seemed kind of half-baked to me. It's like you hear where he is going with his symphonies, but it just hasn't got there yet. Whereas with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, I didn't feel this same kind of feeling at all. The 2nd and 4th were especially good to my ears.

What do you guys think of Symphony No. 12, "The Dead in the Square". For a choral symphony, I find it pretty gnarly and really not far removed from Shostakovich's Babi Yar or one of Penderecki's choral works. I enjoyed this work in the Honeck performance on CPO, but I have yet to listen to the Lindberg or Carl Rune Larsson (on Caprice), which I acquired recently.

Too bad, I don't hear it that way at all; I love the 5th. I have the Lindberg 12th. I'll have to listen to it again soon, maybe today. Don't remember it well.

[DavidW]

I have to say I didn't much care for the 5th. I listened to it last night and it seemed kind of half-baked to me. It's like you hear where he is going with his symphonies, but it just hasn't got there yet. Whereas with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, I didn't feel this same kind of feeling at all. The 2nd and 4th were especially good to my ears.

What do you guys think of Symphony No. 12, "The Dead in the Square". For a choral symphony, I find it pretty gnarly and really not far removed from Shostakovich's Babi Yar or one of Penderecki's choral works. I enjoyed this work in the Honeck performance on CPO, but I have yet to listen to the Lindberg or Carl Rune Larsson (on Caprice), which I acquired recently.

The 12th has really grown on me. It also reminds me of Babi Yar in tone and scope.