For years, people have been listening to the wrong piece by Kurt Atterberg. Instead of the Symphony No. 6, the "Dollar Symphony" that won its composer a $10,000 prize in 1927, what people should have been listening to is this Concerto for cello and orchestra. Begun in 1917 and finally completed in 1922, the three-movement work, like most of Atterberg's oeuvre, is written in the Romantic Grand Manner with big tunes, bold virtuosity, and seductive harmonies. Heretofore, the Cello Concerto has only been digitally recorded by ...
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For years, people have been listening to the wrong piece by Kurt Atterberg. Instead of the Symphony No. 6, the "Dollar Symphony" that won its composer a $10,000 prize in 1927, what people should have been listening to is this Concerto for cello and orchestra. Begun in 1917 and finally completed in 1922, the three-movement work, like most of Atterberg's oeuvre, is written in the Romantic Grand Manner with big tunes, bold virtuosity, and seductive harmonies. Heretofore, the Cello Concerto has only been digitally recorded by cellist Werner Thomas-Mifune with Karl Anton Rickenbacher leading the Berlin Radio Symphony. Their Koch recording was more than serviceable, but gave only hints of the piece's true virtues. Truls Mørk, the great Norwegian cellist with the huge tone and fiery technique, truly believes in Atterberg's music, making the big tunes soar and the intimate moments sing. Backed by Kristjan Järvi, youngest son of Neeme and brother of Paavo, and the Symphony Orchestra of Norrlands Opera, the...
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