NEW YORK SCANDIA SYMPHONY, CONDUCTOR DORRIT MATSON; "Orchestral Works of Lars-Erik Larsson" (Centaur)*** 1/2
One of the most satisfying experiences for a music lover is to discover a new musical treasure. And for those who are willing to look, they can find one in the "Orchestral Works of Lars-Erik Larsson," recorded by the New York Scandia Symphony under the baton of Dorrit Matson.
From the first bars of the Pastoral, a sense of gentle grace infuses the music and stays for the duration of the CD. Although Larsson writes in a romantic style, he's never overbearing, nor does he get weighed down in melodramatic emotion.
That isn't to say that the music is reserved — not at all. Larsson writes tenderly, even passionately. But those who like a lot of "oomph" to their music, be warned — this is no German "meat and potatoes." It's full of life.
As he ranges from piece to piece and mood to mood, Larsson retains a lovely, lyrical, pastorale sound peppered with an occasional "modern" harmonic choice.
He has a wonderful melodic gift, and he plays that to full advantage in these pieces, such as the beautiful "Epilog" from "A Winter's Tale."
Some of the best tracks on the album are in the clever "Barococo" collection. In these, he parodies some of the baroque forms, with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor (and harmonic style) similar to that found in lighter works by Prokofiev and Shostokovich.
Conductor Dorrit Matson approaches the work with a light hand, and the New York Scandia Symphony presents a clean, lively portrayal of these works.
This CD is really a lovely find and would appeal to music lovers just about anywhere on the spectrum.
E-mail: rcline@desnews.com