Britten/Hagen/Strauss Ensemble Allegria

• Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976): Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937):
• 1 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Introduction and Theme 01:52
• 2 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 1. Adagio 02:12
• 3 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 2. March 01:00
• 4 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 3. Romance 01:23
• 5 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 4. Aria Italiana 01:15
• 6 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 5. Bourrée Classique 01:10
• 7 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 6. Wiener Walzer 02:36
• 8 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 7. Moto Perpetuo 01:08
• 9 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 8. Funeral March 03:51
• 10 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 9. Chant 01:27
• 11 Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937): Variation 10. Fugue and Finale 06:33
• Lars Petter Hagen (b. 1975): Strauss Fragments (2020):
• 12 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): I. Adagio 01:19
• 13 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): II. etwas fliessender 00:51
• 14 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): III. sehr langsam 01:36
• 15 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): IV. etwas bewegter 03:26
• 16 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): V. Transfiguration 02:28
• 17 Hagen: Strauss Fragments (2020): VI. Opening 04:55
• Richard Strauss (1864 - 1949): Metamorphosen (1945):
• 18 Strauss: Metamorphosen (1945) 24:44
• Total Runtime 01:03:46

Info for Britten/Hagen/Strauss

Ensemble Allegria presents here a combination of works as an invitation to enjoyment as well as reflection. We are offered variations, metamorphoses and fragments, three different artistic working concepts.

Variation and metamorphosis are similar artistic tools inasmuch as the material to be used is workable and encourages modification. At the same time, the basic material is recognisable or, in any case, reconstructible.

Of course in the works heard here the motif of transformation is intended. And whereas musical variations as with Benjamin Britten typically retain a theme's form and length more or less unaltered, a metamorphosis as Richard Strauss calls his work can by contrast pertain to everything from the shortest motifs to entire movements. Lars Petter Hagen's "Strauss Fragments" were commissioned by Ensemble Allegria.

All three composers on this album stand in debt to an older colleague. Britten had a close association with his teacher Frank Bridge and reveals this through his variations. Strauss explicitly cites Ludwig van Beethoven's third symphony in his "Metamorphoses", and Hagen's composition is based on this latter work. Composing on the basis of music one does not hold in high regard often results in a caricature. This is by no means the case here.

"Artificial-sounding reverb mars the authenticity of the massed string sound – and serves to mask some imprecision in the ensemble playing. Solo passages emerge nicely, though, and the combination of Britten, Strauss and the newly commissioned Strauss Fragments from Lars Petter Hagen makes for an attractive programme." (BBC Music Magazine)

Ensemble Allegria

Allegria
(ital.) means a merriment and enjoyment, and indeed it was the pleasure of playing together that led a group of music students to launch the orchestra in 2007. Ensemble Allegria is considered among Norway´s leading music ensembles and are known for combining high artistic quality with spontaneity and flexibility. Ensemble Allegria is comprised of 23 musicians and since its beginning, the orchestra has been managed independently by its own members. Its permanent concertmaster and artistic director is Maria Angelika Carlsen.

In addition to its own concert series “NÅ” in Oslo, Ensemble Allegria has performed at a number of the leading music festivals in Norway and has collaborated with internationally known soloists, such as Tine Thing Helseth, Martin Fröst, Truls Mørk, Lawrence Power, Kathryn Stott and Benjamin Schmid. The orchestra has released 3 recordings, whereas two have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammy, and has for several years been engaged in projects in collaboration with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir. In 2018 they received, together with The Norwegian Soloist Choir, Diapason d'or de l'année for Choir Record of the Year.

Maria Angelika Carlsen
comes from Nesodden, lives in Oslo and is principal 2. violin in the Oslo Philharmonic orchestra. Maria is very comfortable in the middle of the big symphony orchestra sound, and simply loves being able to accompany a good soloist and help shape the music together with the orchestra, to evoke moments and to be completely present in the present.

Maria graduated from Norway's Academy of Music, where she had Detlef Hahn and Peter Herresthal as teachers, and in these years found Ensemble Allegria together. This chamber orchestra has taught her to think for herself, and challenges her time and time again to become a better, more listening, flexible and patient musician.

Moments she will never forget are being a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, winning the audition for her first job in the SSO, the first time she played in Barratt Due's Junior Orchestra as a 10-year-old (it was so INCREDIBLE fun!), playing Schubert's Ninth Symphony without a conductor with KORK, Bach's fugues that were played in the family home in the old days, and when Allegria opened the Oslo Chamber Music Festival with a string symphony by Mendelssohn, with eyes closed.

Booklet for Britten/Hagen/Strauss