His production includes a large number of lyrical pieces for piano, songs, orchestral suites, music for plays such as Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, the often played piano concerto in A minor, the melodrama Bergljot and chamber music. There is a weightlessness and a twist in Grieg’s music that makes it go straight in. Good examples are the hit songs from Peer Gynt: Anitra’s dance, Morning mood, Solveig’s song, In the Hall of the Mountain King… it’s hard to sit still.
After a successful career, he had to step down for health reasons and when his heart could no longer bear it, he past away. His funeral in 1907 was worthy of a national saint and gathered tens of thousands of people.
Swedish National Orchestra Academy
Hear the orchestra of the University of Gothenburg master’s programme in symphonic orchestra performance. Music by Grieg and Tchaikovsky is conducted by well-known Cathrine Winnes.
Berliner Philharmoniker & Leif Ove Andsnes
The world’s most famous symphony orchestra performs in Gothenburg. Under the baton of chief conductor Kirill Petrenko, Berliner Philharmoniker and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes present Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto.
More about Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) had a divine sense of melody and as a skilled craftsman could create an enchanted mood or a sensual intoxication in just a few moments, with seemingly simple methods.
Grieg lived in a turning point when Norway was creating and formulating its own identity after living for centuries in the shadow of Denmark and Sweden – a fascinating period of constant development where he influenced and was affected to the same extent.
The encyclopedia tells us about his art: “Two national features characterize Grieg’s music and make him a national romantic: Norwegian folk music and Norwegian nature. Fjords, mountains and the vast expanses, the rhythm of Norwegian folk music was woven into Grieg’s works. ” And he was proud of that in his soul, the Norwegian with the hat, the drooping mustache and the sad eyes.
Grieg become 64 years old.
Listen
The playlist is waiting for you with the most and best of Grieg.
The composers behind the most famous masterpieces
Take the opportunity to get to know some of the composers behind the most famous classical masterpieces and listen to their music. Maybe it will be the start of a lifelong friendship.