Symphonic Dances, Op. 64
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46. Incidental music to Peer Gynt by Ibsen
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55. Incidental music to Peer Gynt by Ibsen
Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak EG 107

?"The time has come to step forward with a work which is notable in both form and content." These were the words of Edvard Grieg's publisher, reminding the composer of the major genres of the time: symphony, oratorio, opera. But Grieg did not feel the need to write another symphony and another opera in the Middle European style. He wanted to give Norway its unique voice within European concert repertoire. And he did that with songs and piano pieces - and particularly with his symphonic works, released by audite in a five-part complete recording with Eivind Aadland and the WDR Symphony Orchestra. This first SACD of the complete edition presents Grieg's principal collections: his four Symphonic Dances Op. 64 of 1898, where the composer draws on his experiences as a conductor of the leading European orchestras; and his two suites from the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's drama Peer Gynt, the story of the "Nordic Faust" which inspired Grieg to compose a sonic panorama of the Norwegian character - from the melancholy song of the abandoned Solveig to the furious chase in the Hall of the Mountain King.

Eivind Aadland's roots in the tradition of Norwegian folk music audibly infl uence his interpretations. He comes from a family where Norwegian folk music played an important role, and already as a child he came into intensive contact with Grieg's music. Ideal prerequisites therefore to rediscover Grieg's symphonic works against the background of this tradition. Further details are contained in the booklet. Grieg's connections with Germany stretch from his studies in Leipzig to his numerous concert performances in that country. Added to that is the extraordinary circulation of his works in Germany. This recording with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne therefore also represents on several levels a German-Norwegian synthesis which had already been in existence during Grieg's lifetime. This complete recording by audite includes Grieg's symphonic works as well as orchestral works from his incidental music, compiled by the composer himself. Parallel to the release of the fi rst SACD a video will be available which will be also presented on www.audite.de. The second volume of the complete edition is scheduled for release in August 2011.

Eivind Aadland was chief conductor and artistic director of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra from 2003 until 2010 and has also worked with many other Scandinavian, European, and international orchestras. Aadland initially studied the violin with Yehudi Menuhin. From 1981 until 1989 he was concert master of the Bergen Philharmonic and from 1987 until 1997 music director of the European Union Chamber Orchestra. He subsequently devoted himself fully to his conducting career and studied with Jorma Panula.