Rumon Gamba & Iceland Symphony Orchestra - Wirén: Sinfonietta in C Major, Serenade, Symphony No. 3 & Divertimento (2018)

Bright and lively music from the Swedish composer Dag Wirén is unveiled here in surround-sound by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Rumon Gamba, only a few years after the completion of their Grammy-nominated and highly acclaimed series devoted to the neglected orchestral treasures of Vincent d’Indy. In this unique recording Gamba uses the large body of a full symphonic string section, rather than the somewhat smaller-scale chamber orchestra setup that has tended to be used for this music in the past. The effect is a more complete expression of the wit and strength of these works. Designed to ‘entertain and amuse’, as the composer put it in a note, the widely popular Serenade for Strings is here given an even more brilliant and powerful touch. Other, lesser-known works on the album similarly showcase a composer of fascinating range, who could write light and humorous pieces such as the Sinfonietta and the lively Symphony No. 3, as well as powerful, rhythmical, and serious works, of which the later Divertimento is an example.

TRACKLIST

01. Symphony No. 3, Op. 20: I. Allegro
02. Symphony No. 3, Op. 20: II. Adagio
03. Symphony No. 3, Op. 20: III. Allegro molto
04. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 11: I. Preludium
05. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 11: II. Andante espressivo
06. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 11: III. Scherzo
07. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 11: IV. Marcia
08. Divertimento, Op. 29: I. Moderato
09. Divertimento, Op. 29: II. Allegro moderato
10. Divertimento, Op. 29: III. Andantino
11. Divertimento, Op. 29: IV. Allegro moderato
12. Sinfonietta in C Major, Op. 7a: I. Molto allegro ad energico
13. Sinfonietta in C Major, Op. 7a: II. Andante espressivo
14. Sinfonietta in C Major, Op. 7a: III. Molto allegro