This album features two major orchestral works by Elfrida Andrée (1841–1929), a pioneering Swedish composer, organist, and champion of women’s rights. The Fritiof Suite (1908) is a five-movement orchestral adaptation of her earlier opera Frithiofs saga, based on Esaias Tegnér’s epic poem. Dramatic, lyrical, and richly orchestrated, the suite evokes scenes of heroic romance, seafaring adventure, and Norse legend, and was praised at its premiere for its expressive color and atmosphere.
The Symphony No. 1 in C major (1868) was the first known symphony by a Nordic woman composer. Written in her twenties and premiered in 1869, it combines neo-Romantic spirit with striking orchestral command. Despite initial acclaim, Andrée later viewed the work critically—but it remains a landmark in Scandinavian music history.
Performed by the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra under Hermann Bäumer, this recording shines a light on a remarkable composer whose music deserves renewed attention.
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