EDVIN KALLSTENIUS (1881-1967): Symphony No. 1 in E Flat, Op. 16, Sinfonietta No. 2 in G, Op. 34, Musica Sinfonica, Op. 42.

Description: Kallstenius' was a personal style that was rigorous but rich in innovations. He avoided rigid commitment to a monolithic tonal language by resorting to melodic intensity reinforced by harmonic expansions and interaction between introverted romanticism and gestures of greater vigor pointing toward expressionism. We offered the second symphony in the no-longer-available Phono Suecia "Modern Classics" series way back in February of 1999. His First came from 1926 (rev. 1941) and is in a dense, compressed form (three movements, 23 minutes). Like this, the late (1959) Musica Sinfonica is rigorous and tautly constructed (you might think of a Sibelian Hindemith at times) while still surprising us with a strong dose of Swedish folk music in its third movement, but the Sinfonietta of 1946 is much more relaxed and instantly appealing. Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra; Frank Beermann.