Peer Gynt (Suites & Incidental Music)
Edvard Grieg
Op. 23
Recordings
Top Choice
Herbert von Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic
1982 Digital version. Just the Suites.Top recording for just the Suites. Brings all their best qualities: luscious sound, great drama. Solveig's Song sounds gorgeous. Great coupling with Sibelius and Holberg Suite.
Also Worth Hearing
Sir Thomas Beecham / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
1956 Incidental music (more than suites), includes vocal music. Very good stereo.Classic recording of the incidental music. Beecham brings all his charm and is so good at bringing out the colors. Solveig's Song is sung by a lovely soprano.
Øivin Fjeldstad / London Symphony Orchestra
1958 Incidental music (all instrumental, no vocals). Not as well recorded.Another version of the incidental music. Not as spectacular sounding, but you get a native soulfulness and idiomatic charm. Very recommendable.
Nikolai Golovanov / All Russia Radio Orchestra
late 1940s Fairly rough sounding.Super intense, super dramatic, very virtuosic. May sound un-idiomatic, but it's so exciting it has to be mentioned. All-out, red-blooded Peer Gynt.