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This second volume of Halvorsen's highly imaginative and melodious stage music brings similar surprises and smiles as its earlier counterpart. 'The King' contains a lengthy Symphonic Intermezzo by way of an opening introduction followed by an evocative 'Dance of the Sheperdesses' and a rousing Elegy not dissimilar to Sibelius' more famous 'Festivo'. With 'Vasantasena' we depart from Norway onto the more unfamiliar and exotic Indian lands. Halvorsen's music is imaginative and highly qualitative with an expansive Introduction and an ecstatic 'Hymn to Brahma, all this reveals the composer's highly gifted cosmopolitan outlook in his varied music. 'Tordenskjold' is another local tale with a deeply expressive Funeral March, it is apparent that Halvorsen seemed to excel in this genre with consummate ease. A briskly moving 'Festive March' rounds off another delightful programme. Simax reproduce a very wholesome sound and the booklet is beautifully presented with an impressive photograph of the orchestra spread over two pages together with detailed notes on the music. The Latvian orchestra play with unabashed enjoyment throughout and Mikkelsen's conducting is always imaginative and expressive in all departments. Obviously if you have the first disc then this will be indispensable and vice versa!

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

Review of volume one

Reviewer

Gerald Fenech

Performance:

Sound:

Reviews from previous months