Album

Finding decent albums of Edvard Grieg's best-known works is not difficult since they are regularly released by the major labels, and the handful of pieces nearly everybody knows—the Piano Concerto in A minor, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, From Holberg's Time (also known as the Holberg Suite), and Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, in various arrangements—are routinely anthologized and widely available. However, getting a survey that has those pieces and some other favorites, such as the Lyric Pieces, the Symphonic Dances, and the Norwegian Dances, requires searching for something bigger than a single-disc compilation. Fortunately, Deutsche Grammophon has gathered all the above pieces and a few others on its midrange double-disc Best of Grieg, and it's hard to think of a more thorough program, short of what might be found on a comprehensive box set. The orchestral performances by the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi give the set consistent high quality, and the playing by pianist Lilya Zilberstein in the concerto and by Andrei Gavrilov and Mikhail Pletnev in the solo keyboard works gives this set a nice variety of interpretations. Also worth having in this 2007 Grieg centennial compilation are the sterling vocal performances of mezzo-soprano Marianne Eklöf and soprano Barbara Bonney in the excerpts from the incidental music for Peer Gynt, and mezzo Anne Sofie von Otter's radiant delivery of From Monte Pincio and I Love You (the latter two sung in Norwegian and Danish, respectively.) So fans of Grieg's richly Romantic music and newcomers to his work will find this twofer an attractive offering, and appreciate it even more for the exceptional sound quality, which is DG's usual best.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 Work Recorded 1971 14:44 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
1	1.Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)	4:01			$0.99
2	2.Aases død (The Death of Åse)	4:48			$0.99
3	3.Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance)	3:46			$0.99
4	4.Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)	2:09			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Piano Concerto in A-, Op.16 Work Recorded 1993 29:45 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Lilya Zilberstein Piano
5	1.Allegro molto moderato	13:01			$2.49
6	2.Adagio	6:17			$0.99
7	3.Allegro marcato	10:27			$1.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Norwegian Dances, Op.35...Norwegian Dances, Op.35 (arr. orchestra) Work Recorded 1986 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
8	2.Allegretto tranquillo e grazioso in A	2:29			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 2 Nordic Melodies, for string orchestra, Op.63 Work Recorded 1986 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
9	2.Kulokk (Cow Call); Stabbelåten (Peasant Dance)	5:09			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (v), Op.54 Work Recorded 1992-1993 6:59 Andrei Gavrilov Piano
10	4.Notturno	4:37			$0.99
11	3.Procession of the Trolls	2:22			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 2 Elegiac Melodies, for string orchestra, Op.34 Work Recorded 1992 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
12	2.Last Spring	4:43			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt, Op.23 (Incidental Music)...Act 4 Work Recorded 1987 9:52 Gosta Ohlin Vocal Ensemble Ensemble, Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Barbara Bonney Soprano, Pro Musica Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir, Marianne Eklof Mezzo-Soprano
13	18.Arabian Dance	4:53			$0.99
14	23.Solveig's Song	4:59			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Edvard Grieg Composer From Holberg’s Time ('Holberg Suite'), for string orchestra (orchestration of Op.40 for piano) Work Recorded 1981 20:47 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
1	1.Prelude	2:56			$0.99
2	2.Sarabande	4:15			$0.99
3	3.Gavotte	3:49			$0.99
4	4.Air	5:50			$0.99
5	5.Rigaudon	3:57			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer I høst (In Autumn), concert overture, Op.11 Work Recorded 1988 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
6	I høst (In Autumn), concert overture, Op.11	11:17			$1.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 4 Symphonic Dances, Op.64 Work Recorded 1986 Neeme Järvi Conductor, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
7	2.Allegretto grazioso in A	5:58			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (iii), Op.43 Work Recorded 1999 4:32 Mikhail Pletnev Piano
8	1.Sommerfugl (Butterfly)	1:29			$0.49
9	6.Til våren (To spring)	3:03			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Lyric Pieces (viii), Op.65 Work Recorded 1999 Mikhail Pletnev Piano
10	6.Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding-day at Troldhaugen)	5:42			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer 6 Romances Old and New, Op.39 Work Recorded 1992 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
11	1.Fra Monte Pincio ('From Monte Pincio')	4:52			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Melodies of the Heart, Op.5 Work Recorded 1992 Bengt Forsberg Piano, Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzo-Soprano
12	3.Jeg elsker dig ('I Love But Thee')	1:38			$0.49
Edvard Grieg Composer 3 Orchestral Pieces from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op.56 Work Recorded 1971 Herbert von Karajan Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
13	3.Hommage March	9:46			$1.49