Both of Johan Svendsen’s symphonies are absolute charmers‚ and the First (completed in 1867‚ during his final year of studies at the Leipzig Conservatory) remains a resourceful and wonderfully fresh utterance. The scherzo in particular displays the deftest orchestral touch‚ while the finale (so often a let­down in off­the­beaten­track symphonic literature) is genuinely inspired‚ its noble second subject lingering long in the memory. So bowled over was Grieg by his countryman’s efforts that he immediately withdrew his own C minor Symphony (a far inferior offering‚ written two years previously). If anything‚ Svendsen’s Second Symphony of 1876 (the manuscript of a Third‚ by the way‚ is rumoured to have been destroyed by his second wife following a row) evinces an even more effortless symphonic scope‚ allied to a mastery of orchestral colour and indelible melodic profile that never fail to captivate – qualities relished to the full by the admirable Danish National RSO under Thomas Dausgaard’s vital‚ affectionate and imaginative lead. As a filler‚ we get the first recording of the unpublished Polonaise No 2 – a festive confection of little consequence. A thoroughly recommendable issue‚ in sum‚ though anyone who has already invested in either Neeme Järvi’s or Mariss Jansons’ wholly excellent couplings (on BIS and EMI respectively) can rest content. Bjarte Engeset’s 1997 Naxos release makes a fine bargain choice‚ but the playing of the Bournemouth SO is neither quite as idiomatic nor stylish as that of their Nordic rivals. A tricky decision‚ then‚ but I feel that first­timers should‚ on balance‚ gravitate towards this most enjoyable newcomer. Rich‚ refined recording.