Grieg's own recordings May 2nd 1903 and the 2008 emulations by Sigurd Slåttebrekk

A while ago I stumbled upon this remarkable CD. In 1903, Edward Grieg recorded several piano pieces for a gramophone in Paris. Those recordings, included in te CD, form the basis of the “emulation” of these works by pianist Sigurd Slåttebrekk. On Grieg’s own 1892 Steinway at his home in Troldhaugen these works were recorded again, with Grieg’s own recordings as guideline. How tight he follows Grieg in his recording shows track 24, where Slåttebrekk’s and Grieg’s recording alternatively overlap. Seamless… Of the solo recordings that Grieg did not record, Slåttebrekk plays the 20 minute Ballade. It’s the highlight of this CD and the best recording I know of this piece. Two movements of the opus 7 e minor sonata are played in the truncated version Grieg recorded and, later on, the complete uncut sonata is performed by Sigurd Slåttebrekk.

There is also a recording of Grieg’s piano concerto with Michail Jurowski.

With this project, a website was made, that still exists. It contains articles, interviews and images surrounding the 1903 Grieg recordins and the emulations on the CD.

https://www.chasingthebutterfly.no/

I hope you will enjoy this playlist! 

Edward Grieg (1843-1907)

Played by Sigurd Slåttebrekk on Grieg’s Steinway in Troldhaugen, recorded in 2008:

Track 01 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6

Track 02 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 03 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 04 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6

Track 05 Gangar (Lyric Pieces, vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 2

Track 06 Sommerfugl (Butterfly) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 1

Track 07 Tempo de Menuetto ed energico (Humoresker), Op. 6, No. 2

Track 08 Brudefølget drar forbi (The Bridal Procession Passes) (Folkelivsbilder), Op. 19, No. 2

Track 09 Etterklang (Remembrances)(Lyric Pieces, Vol. 10), Op. 71, No. 7

Track 10 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~1. Allegro moderato

Track 11 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~2. Andante molto

Track 12 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 13 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 14 Ballade in G minor, Op. 24

Played by Edward Grieg, recorded in Paris, May 2, 1903:

Track 15 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6

Track 16 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~3. Alla menuetto

Track 17 Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7~4. Finale

Track 18 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6

Track 19 Gangar (Lyric Pieces, vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 2

Track 20 Sommerfugl (Butterfly) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 5), Op. 54, No. 1

Track 21 Tempo de Menuetto ed energico (Humoresker), Op. 6, No. 2

Track 22 Brudefølget drar forbi (The Bridal Procession Passes)(Folkelivsbilder), Op. 19, No. 2

Track 23 Etterklang (Remembrances)(Lyric Pieces, Vol. 10), Op. 71, No. 7

Grieg and Slåttebrekk alternating:

Track 24 Brylluspsdag på Troldhaugen (Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 8), Op. 65, No. 6

Played by Edward Grieg, recorded in Paris, May 2, 1903:

Track 25 Til Våren (To Spring) (Lyric Pieces, Vol. 3), Op. 43, No. 6

Played by... Sigurd Slåttebrekk, piano

Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester

Michail Jurowski, conductor:

Tracks 26-28 Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a minor op 16

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2F70lSpGdjJwoulqHuDPfw?si=51925e15b3bf43c6(HTTP link)