North German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Prager Chamber Choir conducted by Ari Rasilainen. Gabriel Suovanen (baritone) and Satu Vihavainen (mezzo-soprano).
I - Introduction. Adagio (0:00) - Heid was her name (2:33) - I recall the giants (5:19) - She saw farther (8:44) - Well she knows (11:59) - With spear Odin charged (15:04) - Over hot springs (18:42) - I see far into the future (21:50) - Much I have understood (24:05) - How is it with the Aesir? (28:07) - Rym steers out of the east (29:59) - Now it nears (32:05) - The sun blackens (34:30)
Atterberg's Symphony No.9 was composed between 1955-6, being premiered on February 1957, performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nils-Eric Fougstedt. Written in a single movement, the work employs a mezzo-soprano, a baritone and choirs. The text is taken from the Poetic Edda, a collection of mythological, magical and heroic Nordic poems, emphasizing those parts relating to Ragnarök, the Scandinavian pagan story of the end of the world.
It begins with a sombre orchestral introduction, with gloomy chords announcing a future tragedy. The baritone, as a bard, begins narrating how Odin invocates Vala, the wise prophetess. The mezzo-soprano, as Vala, answers him and begins a dialogue. Naturally, the god wants to know his future. She then begins by recounting the past, with a phrase evoking the giants with the Wagnerian theme of the ring. She continues through a song full of force telling the past, from the origin of the earth. In the final part the chorus intervenes as they talk about the gods, like in Greek tragedies. A chromatic orchestral interlude leads us to the pythoness speaking of the world's ash tree, Yggdrasil, the tree that symbolizes the universe.
The bard narrates how Odin recognizes the wisdom of Vala, upon discovering to him secret memories. Recurring motives are then introduced, most notably the phrase "Do you understand me?", acting as a proverb. The choir also uses recurring motives and themes, which joins in with the baritone as they tell how the gods hold a counsel. The music rises in a climax before the bard tells us about the war, with inflamed Wagnerian phrases dialoguing with the prophetess. The chorus intervenes before a great orchestral interlude, with forceful and aggressive gestures. A solemn motive is presented, becoming one of the main themes of the work. After the climax, strings introduce a twelve-note motive that represents evil, as it references the hot fountain to which Loki is chained.
Flute and clarinet, perform a twelve-tone series, soon joined by the mezzo-soprano with an inversion of that series in a recitative. The bard then repeats the phrases until the chorus enters violently. Vala the begins a recitative in which she reveals the curse prophecy that announces the end of the world. The baritone answers with a melancholic aria. The choir repeats its previous violent intervention. Vala repeats the theme of the prophecy, presented at the beginning of the previous section. The atmosphere is one of war and destruction, as the choir enters with the twelve-note motive on the brass. The end of the world has begun as war and moral decadence become commonplace.
The mezzo-soprano sadly throws her fateful phrase. The choirs again intervene with great violence, interrupted by the repetition of the fateful phrase of the pythoness. Brasses violently answer her, followed by the chorus. Vala then repeats her phrase. The bard then sings with urgency, warning of the imminent danger. The choir then narrates how Loki is freed, uniting the forces of evil as the Yggdrasi begins to tremble. Vala again repeats the cursed prophecy. The choir then begins to describe the war scenes with great ruthlessness. The final battle then begins between the gods led by Odin against the forces of evil led by Loki. Vala, once again, repeats the cursed prophecy.
In the last section, Vala and the bard tells us about the destruction of Valhalla, the paradise of the gods. The sun becomes dark, fire destroys everything and the starts fall from the sky. The pythoness repeats with bitterness and anguish the tragic fate of the world. The baritone sings his final aria supported with sadness by the choirs, as the dragon of darkness appears from the Nida mountains. The work ends with the last verses of the baritone, followed by a meditative coda that seems to sink in the darkness.
[Activate subtitles to read the lyrics].
Picture: Concept art of vikings, by the Mongolian artist Ganbat Badamkhand.
Sources: bit.ly/3EVGTl6 and bit.ly/3IINzEa
To check the score: bit.ly/3EVGTl6
31 июл 2018
