this symphony’s high seriousness of manner and beautifully intertwining themes make it one of the glories of the 20th-century Scandinavian repertoire. Thus it is a pleasure to welcome this stupendous performance to the recorded catalog, one not to be missed by anyone interested in the modern symphony. © 2012 Fanfare Read complete review on Fanfare

Bjarte Engeset and the Bournemouth Symphony give deeply committed performances…and sound totally at home in Irgens-Jensen’s music. Listeners will know Engeset’s work with this group from his fine recording of the Svendsen symphonies. This is a conductor who phrases naturally and effectively. We will surely hear more from him…The sound on the CD is all one could wish for. © 2012 Fanfare Read complete review on Fanfare

Admirers of Scandinavian music who know Irgens-Jensen…won’t be disappointed here. © 2012 American Record Guide Read complete review on American Record Guide online

This fine disc embodies the fickle nature of musical fame and fate. This is music of depth yet instant appeal. For any collector who responds to large-scale orchestral scores written in a freely tonal manner this is powerfully compelling listening. …I have not heard a note before this disc. So congratulations and praise to Naxos for another winner of a disc.

Ludvig Irgens-Jensen’s Passacaglia of 1928, music of unaffected grandeur and nobility, is one of the monuments of the Scandinavian orchestral repertoire. It receives a powerful performance from Bjarte Engeset and the Bournemouth Symphony, particularly when the brass weigh in with the concluding chorale. The work has been recorded before, and quite well too…but certainly this performance ranks with the best available.

The performance is as fine as we have any right to expect, and the sonics are both rich and vivid. Might we look forward to a badly needed new version of the Partita Sinfonica from these same forces?

One can easily hear how this could be adapted to organ especially in the later part as a triple fugue is offered…

“Air” is a short piece that is a song is arranged for orchestra. It begins with a lovely clarinet solo offering the melody until the strings pick up the melody…

I must give an extra star to the liner notes written by the conductor Bjarte Engeset who obviously has a great fondness for Ludvig. This is a Naxos CD to be explored.