11. - 13. Edvard Grieg - Sigurd Jorsalfar. Incidental Music, op.56 [17'00]
14. - 18. Edvard Grieg - Five Orchestral Songs* [12'51]
Kirsten Flagstad- soprano, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Oivin Fjeldstad
Decca Weekend 425 512-2 (recorded February 1958, 1960 and 1959; this CD issued 1989)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Kingsway Hall, London (Peer Gynt); not stated (others)
Recording engineer and Producer: Cyril Windeback and Christopher Raeburn (Peer Gynt); not stated (others)
Here's one of an old and long-running budget series from Decca which was provided with fashionably minimalist documentation. However, if there is anybody around who still needs yet another Peer Gynt and if they can do without the soprano and chorus, this is one of the finest recordings of the orchestral version. Providing more than the standard two suites, Oivin Fjeldstad and the LSO remain my favourite recording when I don't need to hear the vocal parts. The Norwegian Fjeldstad was a very under-rated conductor and made many fine recordings for Decca and Scandinavian labels; including conducting for Clifford Curzon's Grieg Piano Concerto and Ruggero Ricci's Sibelius Violin Concerto.
The recording quality on the original LP issues was outstanding and this early digitisation is fine with excellent depth and clarity but a slight glassiness to the sound. This has possibly been improved in later 24-bit transfers.
As an icing on the cake, although she was past her prime, these late recordings of Grieg songs by Kirsten Flagstad are probably the best recorded representation of her sound - perhaps a bit too grand for the songs.