Dag Wiren: Symphonies No.4 & No.5 - Thomas Dausgaard

Dag Wiren:
01. - 03. Symphony No.4, op.27 [18'31]
04. - 07. Symphony No.5, op.38 [22'37]
08. - 12. Ballet-suite, op.24a 'Oscarsbalen' [15'33]

Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dausgaard

CPO 999 563-2  [recorded October 1997; CD issued 1998]

[digital download; flacs, booklet, cover and inlay scans]

If he is known at all by the general music listener, the Swedish composer Dag Wiren is probably only known by his Serenade for Strings. In Britain, particularly for the March movement which was used for many years as the signature tune for the popular TV arts program 'Monitor'.

Wiren's music is often fairly light and sunny although that certainly doesn't apply to the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies. He lived from 1905 to 1986 and is grouped with other Swedish composers, Lars-Erik Larsson, Erland von Koch and Gunnar de Frumerie, quite different to the anguished style of Allan Pettersson.

All of Wiren's works are well crafted and full of memorable themes even if more pithy and acerbic than usual in these two symphonies. The Ballet Suite is lighter and less distinctive - more redolent of minor Prokofiev. Thomas Dausgaard leads excellent performances with his fine Swedish orchestra. Fine recorded sound as well.

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