The Iceland Symphony Orchestra made their American debut on record many years ago, but UK collectors have only been able to hear them on domestic issues in the last few months. I note that DJF was not very impressed by their qualities last March on a Rachmaninov disc conducted by Igor Buketoff, but here, under their regular conductor since 1988, they show themselves to be a highly responsive and efficient ensemble. Perhaps the upper strings sound a little underpowered at times, but this may be the fault of an otherwise very good recording, for in the two admittedly straightforward Svendsen pieces for strings alone there is a warm, sonorous tone-quality.
The young Finnish conductor Petri Sakari has already shown his considerable skills with the orchestra on a Chandos issue containing music by a compatriot, Leevi Madetoja. Here he shows himself to be a highly sympathetic conductor of Grieg's music. He is particularly successful in conveying the delicate, slightly wistful aspect of the composer's style, and does this with great tact and charm. On the other hand he responds well to Grieg's more extrovert writing in a delightfully fresh, buoyant and good-humoured fashion.
There are performances of the Norwegian Dances available which might have an extra degree or two of orchestral polish, but I can think of none which exceeds this in terms of personality and style. Sakari takes the overture In Autumn at a slightly slower basic tempo and in a slightly more gentle fashion than Beecham (EMI), but his performance is still alert and highly agreeable in its own way. The Old Norwegian Romance with Variations is played in a very affectionate manner, with contrasts of mood strongly painted. I'm not sure that Max Spicker's orchestration of ''Erotik'' is very true to the piano original, but it does little harm. The Svendsen pieces are modest, but very pleasing.
Don't be put off by the prospect of a less well-known orchestra playing under a conductor who is as yet scarcely known. Chandos have in fact made a shrewd choice, and the level of accomplishment on this disc is satisfyingly high.'