Troback/Gothenburg/Jarvi - Wilhelm Stenhammar: S�ngen - Symphonic Cantata, Reverenza, Romeo and Julia, Two Sentimental Romances

In a way it is odd that Stenhammar may be best known for a comparative trifle - the Entr'acte from the huge cantata S�ngen ('The Song'). This is an encore for basically all Swedish orchestras touring abroad. So why limit oneself to recording just that? Well, because the Cantata demands quite big forces - 4 soloists with demanding parts and 2 choruses on top of a quite large orchestra. It has only been commercially recorded once before, by Herbert Blomstedt, and I happen to know that it has been on Neeme J�rvi's wish list for decades. All the better now that, when he has turned 80, we were finally able to fulfil his dreams, and with extremely good forces at that: four brilliant soloists, the two choruses and Stenhammar's own orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony in their splendid concert hall. Concert Master Sara Trob�ck does full justice to the Two Sentimental Romances and we have something as unique as a movement for oboe solo in the middle of the Suite. The recording includes live material, and all the necessary performance tension and musicality pervade these readings' - Robert von Bahr, CEO of BIS Records.