Grieg: Chamber Music [3 CD set]

Edvard Grieg was the father of Norwegian music; his most famous pieces are the Piano Concerto in A Minor and the incidental music to Peer Gynt. Sent to study at the conservatory of Leipzig during his teens, his compositions show a thorough grounding in the European Romantic tradition, although his later works explore the idea of a national Norwegian style.

His chamber music showcases the way in which he actively sought to weave the characteristics of Norwegian popular music into accepted compositional forms and styles. Grieg himself said of the violin sonatas: 'They are representativeof the three periods of my evolution: the firstnaive and full of melodic ideas, the second nationalistic, and the third turning to much vaster horizons.' The quartet in G Minor initially proved a problem for the composer, but it is nonetheless a triumph, brimming with impressive moments such as the beauty of the pastoral reverie and the relentless rhythm of the energetic finale. The collection also includes the Cello Concerto in A Minor - written for Grieg's brother John, an amateur cellist - the String Quartet No.2 in F and the Andante con moto for piano trio.

The recording boasts a wealth of renowned chamber musicians; among them are the Moscow Trio, an ensemble that has achieved great success in Europe. Also featured are acclaimed performers such as Alexander Vinnitsky, Vladimir Ovchinnikov and Alexander Rudin.