Franz Berwald
Early Romantic · 1796–1868
Sweden mostly ignored Franz Berwald while he was alive. Born in Stockholm in 1796 into a family of musicians, he wrote symphonies that hardly anyone would perform, so he earned his living in other ways entirely: he ran a successful orthopedic clinic in Berlin, and later back in Sweden he managed a glassworks. He kept composing anyway.
The music was worth the wait it endured. His symphonies are quick, light on their feet, and full of surprising turns; the third, which he called the Sinfonie singulière, did not get its first performance until 1905, thirty-seven years after his death, by which time Swedish musicians had finally taken him up as a national figure.
The Sinfonie singulière is the one to hear first. After that, try the Konzertstück for bassoon and orchestra, a short showpiece with real charm.
37 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- Piano Quintet no. 1 in C minor
- Duo Concertino in A minor For 2 violins
- Duo for Cello and Piano in B flat major
- Duo for Violin and Piano in D major
- Duo for Violin and Piano in D minor
- Grand Septet in B flat major For clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello and double-bass
- Piano Quintet no. 2 in A major
- Piano Trio no. 1 in E flat major
- Piano Trio no. 2 in F minor
- Piano Trio no. 3 in D minor
- Piano Trio no. 4 in C major
- Quartet for piano, clarinet, horn and bassoon in E flat major
- String Quartet no. 1 in G minor
- String Quartet no. 2 in A minor
- String Quartet no. 3 in E flat major
Keyboard
- Fantasy on 2 Swedish folk-melodies
Orchestral
- Konzertstück for Bassoon and Orchestra
- Piano Concerto in D major
- Symphony no. 1 in G minor, "Sinfonie sérieuse"
- Symphony no. 3 in C major, "Sinfonie singulière"
- Festival of the Bayadères Symphonic poem
- Foot-race Symphonic poem
- Play of the Elves Symphonic poem
- Reminiscence of the Norwegian Mountains Symphonic poem
- Serious and Joyful Fancies Symphonic poem
- Symphony no. 2 in D major, "Sinfonie capricieuse"
- Symphony no. 4 in E flat major, "Sinfonie naïve"
- Violin Concerto in C sharp minor, op. 2
Stage
- Estrella de Soria Opera
- The Queen of Golconda Opera
Vocal
- A votre âge Song
- Den 4 Juli 1844 Song
- En parcourant les doux climats Song
- Lebt wohl ihr Berge Song
- Romance, "Jag minnes dig" Song
- Serenade in F major For tenor, clarinet, horn, viola, cello, double-bass and piano
- Traum Song
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