The output of the Swedish composer Allan Pettersson (1911 – 1980) consists almost entirely of symphonies. He wrote 16, of which the first remained incomplete (although Christian Lindberg, the conductor here, has edited and recorded it). A reclusive, cantankerous individual, Pettersson began his career as an orchestral violist but illness forced him to quit. For most of his life he was wracked with constant pain, and the premiere of the Seventh Symphony in 1968 was the last he was able to attend in person. His monolithic, angst-ridden works – most of which are in one continuous movement, usually lasting around 40 minutes – are assumed to reflect his personal circumstances, but as with Shostakovich they have a wider scope.
Despite similar characteristics and a tendency to reach plateaus of hysteria and stay there, each of Pettersson’s symphonies shows a distinct individuality. The Fifth begins and continues in a mysterious, drawn out way, building implacably and using a sparse palette by this composer’s standards.
The Seventh is more Sibelian, and is the best known and most often recorded. The reason for its popularity possibly lies in its variety of tempi, and the straightforward minor key tonality of the opening and the melancholy coda. This recording is its fifth (to my knowledge). At around 41 minutes, Lindberg’s performance is more streamlined and less overtly emotional than the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra’s 1993 BIS recording under Leif Segerstam, and the SACD sound of the new disc is vastly preferable.
Lindberg is undoubtedly the Pettersson specialist of our time. He understands the problems of orchestral balance this music poses, especially in crowded climaxes, and keeps everything as clear as possible. The orchestra knows the style intimately. This is the tenth disc in their Pettersson series, and it maintains the high standard already set.
Composer: Allan Pettersson
Composition: Symphonies Nos 5 and 7
Performer: Norrköping Symphony Orchestra/Christian Lindberg
Catalogue Number: BIS BIS2240 (SACD)
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