Symphonic Suites / Симфонические сюиты

by Edvard Grieg
performed by Grand Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio
conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

This was another LP that my mum loved. DiscoGS lists 57 versions of this record, the earliest of them released in 1967. The orchestra is credited as Большой Симфонический Оркестр Всесоюзного Радио, which was its official name between 1966 and 1974. So let’s think Suites were recorded in 1966—1967. In our house, however, we had a 1971 pressing. I even remember the time (1971?) when it was squeaky new.

Since it was the only Grieg vinyl we had (Holberg Suite and Piano Concerto in A minor would come later), my mum referred to it just as a “Grieg”. “Put on a Grieg please.” My all-time favourite was «Шествие гномов» (March of the Trolls)^*. As it was the last track, I had to wait. But it was well worth it.

It still is.

Edvard Grieg Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2, Lyric Suite

Эдвард Григ Пер Гюнт. Две сюиты из музыки к драме Г. Ибсена Лирическая сюита, соч. 54

Peer Gynt-suite nr. 1, op. 46 / Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 / Пер Гюнт. Сюита №1, соч. 46 (audio) Morgenstemning / Morning Mood / Утро Åses død / The Death of Åse / Смерть Озе Anitras dans / Anitra’s Dance / Танец Анитры I Dovregubbens hall / In the Hall of the Mountain King / В пещере горного короля Peer Gynt-suite nr. 2, op. 55 / Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55 / Пер Гюнт. Сюита № 2, соч. 55 (audio) Ingrids klage / Ingrid’s Lament / Жалоба Ингрид Arabisk dans / Arabian Dance / Арабский танец Peer Gynts hjemfart / Peer Gynt’s Homecoming / Возвращение Пера Гюнта Solveigs sang / Solveig’s Song / Песня Сольвейг Lyrisk suite, op. 54 / Lyric Suite, Op. 54 / Лирическая сюита, соч. 54 (audio) Gjætergut / Shepherd Boy / Мальчик-пастух Gangar / Norwegian March / Норвежский крестьянский марш† Notturno / Nocturne / Ноктюрн Troldtog / March of the Dwarfs / Шествие гномов*

*	This piece, Troldtog (literally, “troll procession”), is known in English as either March of the Trolls or March of the Dwarves. I prefer the former translation, while the Russian «Шествие гномов» means “procession of the gnomes”.
†	I suppose Soviet bureaucrats couldn’t leave «Норвежский марш» (“Norwegian march”) as such, they needed to insert peasants somewhere, as in “Workers and Peasants”. Thus «Норвежский крестьянский марш» (“Norwegian peasant march”). The original title, Gangar, is simply “march”, not even “Norwegian”.