This disc contains two of Rued Langgaard’s most attractive symphonies, both heavily inspired by nature and the seasons. No. 4, subtitled “Leaf-Fall”, lasts only 23 minutes and contains more than a dozen small, melodious sections. How it all hangs together beats me, but it does, and it sounds wholly lovely and unpretentious. The two versions of the Romantic and passionate Fifth Symphony begin similarly but diverge from there (the earlier version contains four movements, the later one five). They stand in a similar general relationship to each other as do the two Prokofiev Fourths, one longer and a bit larger than its pithy and concise predecessor. Of course, “concise” is a relative term, since we’re talking about the difference between 14 and 19 minutes, and Langgaard doesn’t make Prokofiev’s mistake of inflating to heroic proportions material that can ill stand the strain.
Both of these works have been recorded before by this same orchestra, excellently too, under Neeme Järvi for Chandos. Dausgaard’s interpretations reveal clear differences compared to those of his predecessor. In the Fourth Symphony, he’s about three minutes quicker, while in the revised version of No. 5, he’s slower by the same differential. Neither sounds obviously “better”, but Dausgaard’s approach very effectively differentiates between the composer’s two conceptions of the Fifth. In both cases, the orchestra plays splendidly and enjoys first class sonics; but if forced to choose (and on the assumption that you are trying to amass a first class Langgaard cycle) I’d probably opt for this newcomer on account of the fascinating light it sheds on the delightful Fifth Symphony. [6/29/2002]
