Nordic Rhapsody
Sinding, Stenhammar, Sibelius, Nielsen, Rautavaara, Grieg
Johan Dalene (violin), Christian Ihle Hadland (piano) (BIS)
(scroll down for English review)
大致集齊重要的北歐作曲家，還有屬於現代的拉特化拿1993年作品。碟名雖然叫「北歐狂想曲」，但一半篇幅是小品，不只是長度，而且感情都是較細膩。分置頭尾的的Sinding《古風組曲》（軌一至三）及葛利格《第一小提琴奏鳴曲》（軌12至14）就較貼題。
不過Dalene在這兩曲的處理不盡相同，他在Sinding較為強調熱情，不惜犧牲短音的音質來傳達刺激感覺。至於葛利格，我很高興他選了最少人拉的第一，而不是第二或三，我最欣賞他大曲當小曲去拉，較着重箇中的細膩，包括第三樂章也舉重若輕。
其他的小曲，他卻多數用大曲的氣魄去拉，這樣我覺得很能彌補到這些作品稍為次級的質素，旋律雖然不難忘，但當中的情感亦很有感染力。值得留意是Stenhammar《兩首感傷浪漫曲》（軌四至五），以及西貝流士《搖籃曲》（軌八）。
二十歲的Dalene的表現遠勝預期，技術紥實，也有成熟的音樂感。至於這碟的選曲，我就希望知名小提琴家能夠多涉獵，讓我們看看他們在這種曲目會拉成怎樣。
This is a very good sample of Nordic composers worth knowing, with a 1993 Rautavaara piece thrown in. Despite the “rhapsody” title most of the pieces are of a smaller scale in terms of length and sentiment. The bookends of the album (Sinding and Grieg) are better examples of rhapsody.
Yet Dalene approached the two differently. He emphasized the fire and virtuosity in the Sinding so he sounded coarse at times. As for the Grieg, I was overjoyed that he selected the least played First Sonata. And he played it with appropriate reserve, showing the tenderness of it.
Dalene tackled the small pieces with large gestures, he somehow compensated for the lesser qualities of them. The melodies weren’t memorable but Dalene was able to salvage their inherent emotions. Stenhammar’s Two Sentimental Romances (tracks 4 and 5) and Sibelius’ Berceuse (track 8) are my favourites.
The 20-year-old Dalene has a secure technique and a mature musicality. He showed these Nordic pieces should be in the repertoire and I wish famous violinists can give their takes on them.