BERWALD : Piano Trios Nºs 1-3 (Ilona Prunyi · András Kiss · Csaba Onczay) (1993) Two Version | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

For much of the nineteenth century in Sweden, music-making was confined to small-scale chamber music at home and ambitious composers had to move abroad to seek acceptance of their work. Whilst Berwald enjoyed some success in continental Europe, only a handful of his orchestral works were performed in Sweden during his lifetime. This caused him in later years to concentrate on chamber music, completing two piano quintets, three string quartets, four piano trios as well as duos for violin and piano and cello and piano. Berwald received much encouragement from his friend Liszt who praised Berwald’s invention, skill and elegant style whilst adding, somewhat prophetically: ‘you truly possess originality but you will not enjoy success during your lifetime. Nevertheless you must persevere.’naxos

FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Piano Trio No. 1 In E Flat Major
4-6.    Piano Trio No. 2 In F Minor
7-9.    Piano Trio No. 3 In D Minor
Credits : 
Cello – Csaba Onczay
Piano – Ilona Prunyi
Violin – András Kiss

BERWALD : Piano Trio in C Major · Piano Trio No. 4 (Kálmán Dráfi · György Kertész · Jozsef Modrian) (1993) Two Version | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

The Swedish composer Berwald found more welcome at home for his chamber music than for his larger scale compositions, in spite of his success abroad. This, the second volume of his Piano Trios, includes two of the five that he completed and fragments of two other unfinished works. naxos
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Piano Trio In C Major (1845)    (26:52)
4.    Piano Trio In E Flat Major (Fragment)    10:31
5.    Piano Trio In C Major (Fragment)    7:20
6.    Piano Trio No. 4 In C Major 18:46
Credits : 
Performer, Cello – Kertész György
Performer, Piano – Dráfi Kálmán
Performer, Violin – Jozsef Modrian
Painting [View of Lidingobro] – Carl Wilhelm Wilhelmson
Photography By [Photo of Painting] – Connaught Brown, London, UK, Bridgeman Art Library

BERWALD : Complete Duos (Tobias Ringborg · David Bergström · Mats Rondin · Bengt-Åke Lundin) (2000) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

For much of the nineteenth century in Sweden, music-making was confined to small-scale chamber music at home and ambitious composers had to move abroad to seek acceptance of their work. Whilst Berwald enjoyed some success in continental Europe, only a handful of his orchestral works were performed in Sweden during his lifetime. This caused him in later years to concentrate on chamber music, completing two piano quintets, two string quartets, three piano trios as well as duos for violin and piano and cello and piano. Berwald received much encouragement from his friend Liszt who praised Berwald’s invention, skill and elegant style whilst adding, somewhat prophetically: ‘you truly possess originality but you will not enjoy success during your lifetime. Nevertheless you must persevere.’ naxos
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Duo In D Minor For Violin And Piano (1858)    (18:22)
4.    Fantasy On Two Swedish Folk-Melodies For Piano Solo (1850)    7:29
5.    Concertino In A Minor For Violin And Piano – Fragment (1859)    2:40
6-8.    Duo Concertant In A Minor For Two Violins (1816)    (24:28)
9-11.    Duo In B Flat Major For Cello And Piano (1857)    (17:07)
Credits : 
Cello – Mats Rondin
Cover [painting] – Johan Way
Piano – Bengt-Åke Lundin
Violin – David Bergström (tracks: 6 to 8), Tobias Ringborg

FRANZ BERWALD : Pianotrio Ess-dur & d-moll Pianokvintett c-moll (1989) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-2.    Piano Trio D-moll (Trio No. 3 D Minor)    (24:15)
3.    Pianokvintett C-moll (Piano Quintet C Minor)    23:28
4-6.    Piano Trio Ess-dur (Trio No. 1 E. Flat Major)    (19:20)
Credits : 
Cello – Ola Karlsson
Orchestra – Berwaldkvartetten
Piano – Lucia Negro, Stefan Lindgren 
Violin – Bernt Lysell

ROMANTIC ENSEMBLES — Septets, Octets & Nonets of : SPOHR · HUMMEL · BERWALD · KREUTZER · BEETHOVEN & SCHUBERT (2006) 6CD BOX-SET | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

In hard times, everyone is looking for the killer deal. In respect to wind chamber music of the early romantic period, one could hardly do better than with Brilliant Classics' Romantic Ensembles, a six-CD box set that contains much of the major wind literature from the first half of the nineteenth century. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, a fad in Europe for harmoniemusik -- groups of wind bands that usually played potpourris of operatic hits -- was current. Composers such as Hummel, Kreutzer, Spohr, Schubert, Berwald, and Beethoven here seized upon this format to express more complex and ambitious musical concepts. Beethoven's Septet in E flat, Op. 20, though not as highly regarded some of his symphonies in retrospect, played a major role in establishing Beethoven's reputation as a composer. The Schubert Octet in F, D. 803, and Berwald's Grand Septet in B flat were works that looked to Beethoven's as a kind of model; others represented here to some degree tap into the eighteenth century approach to harmoniemusik and forges something new and original out of it. The early nineteenth century was the most fruitful era of any concerning developments in the wind chamber format; as such groups merged into larger units and became more concerned with popular music, interest among composers in producing works like these began to flag in the latter half of the century.

One of the reasons this modest and innocuous-looking box is so desirable is the performances included. These are not just any groups performing these works, but top-flight ensembles -- The Berlin Philharmonic Octet, the Wiener Kammerensemble, and Britain's the Nash Ensemble. The reason that this can be marketed so cheaply is that all are older recordings, but most are at least digital and the performances are all first-rate. Brilliant Classics' Romantic Ensembles would make a lovely gift for a wind player, or someone specifically interested in wind ensemble music, and the modest asking price won't break the bank. Uncle Dave Lewis  
CD1 :
SPOHR 
Nonet in F major Op. 31
Octet in E major Op. 32
CD2 :
HUMMEL 
Septet (The Military) in C major Op. 114
KREUTZER
Grand Septet in E flat major Op.62
CD3 :
HUMMEL 
Septet in D minor Op. 74
BERWALD
Grans Septet in B flat major
CD4 :
SPOHR
Septet in F major Op. 147
Quintet inh C minor Op. 52
CD5 :
SCHUBERT
Octet in F major D8003, Op. 166
CD6 :
BEETHOVEN
Septet in E flat major Op. 20
Septet in E flat major Op. 81b
Credits : 
CD1 - CD4
The Nash Ensemble
CD5
Berlin Philarmonic Octet
CD6
Wiener Kammerensemble 

BERWALD · STENHAMMAR · AULIN : Swedish Romantic Violin Concertos (Niklas Willén · Swedish Chamber Orchestra · Tobias Ringborg) (1999) Two Version | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

For much of the nineteenth century in Sweden, music-making was confined to small-scale chamber music at home. Ambitious composers had to move abroad to seek acceptance of their work. Berwald’s Violin Concerto was performed only once in Sweden during his lifetime, and on that occasion the audience laughed. It was not until a century later, when Tor Aulin and Wilhelm Stenhammar led a Berwald revival, that this sparkling work was performed throughout Europe. Stenhammar’s two Romances were written during one of the most creative periods of his life. Full of feeling, they are models of the genre. The two Romances were given their first performance by Tor Aulin, whose own Violin Concerto No. 3 belongs firmly to the world of Brahms and the central European romantic tradition. naxos
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Violinkonsert I Ciss-Moll, Op 2    (21:38)
WILHELM STENHAMMAR (1871-1927)
4-5.    Två Sentimentala Romanser, Op 28
TOR AULIN (1866-1914)
4-8.    Violinkonsert Nr 3 I C-Moll, Op 14 (30:59)
Credits : 
Conductor – Niklas Willén
Cover [Omslagsbild - "Hoga-dal På Tjörn"] – Karl Nordström
Orchestra – Svenska Kammarorkestern
Violin – Tobias Ringborg 

A Bassoon in Stockholm — FRANZ BERWALD : septet & quartet • ÉDOUARD DU PUY : quintet (Donna Agrell) (2015) SACD | Two Version | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Septet In B Flat Major For Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Cello And Double Bass (23:15)
7-9.    Quartet In E Flat Major For Piano, Clarinet, Horn And Bassoon (23:43)
ÉDOUARD DU PUY (1770-1822)
4-5.    Två Sentimentala Romanser, Op 28
Credits : 
Bassoon, Liner Notes – Donna Agrell
Cello – Albert Brüggen
Clarinet – Lorenzo Coppola
Double Bass – Robert Franenberg
Fortepiano – Ronald Brautigam
Horn – Teunis van der Zwart
Viola – Yoshiko Morita 
Violin – Franc Polman 

KUHLAU · BERWALD : Piano Concertos (Maurizio Paciariello · Sassari Symphony Orchestra · Roberto Diem Tigani) (2002) Two Version | APE (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

FRIEDRICH KUHLAU (1786-1832)
1-3.    Piano Concerto in C major op.7
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
4-6.    Piano Concerto in D major
Credits : 
Maurizio Paciariello - Piano
Sassari Symphony Orchestra
Roberto Diem Tigani -  Conductor

BERWALD : Symphonies and Overtures (SRSO · Roy Goodman) 2CD (2004) Serie Dyad | Two Version | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

The Swedish composer Franz Berwald wrote music staggeringly ahead of his time; his symphonic works have rather more in common with Mendelssohn and Berlioz than strict chronological considerations would suggest. Robert Layton has written (in his Guide to the Symphony): 'It is the quality of Berwald's thematic invention, his transparent textures and expert orchestration, and the generosity of spirit that informs his musical personality that make his music engage both our sympathies and our affection'.

This set contains the four complete surviving symphonies, the fragmentary youthful A major Symphony (completed for this recording by Duncan Druce), and overtures to two of the composer's most successful operas.

There could be no orchestra more qualified to record the works of Berwald than that of the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation. Here they are conducted by Roy Goodman and recorded in the Berwald Hall in Stockholm. Hyperion
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
Tracklist 1 :
1.    Overture To Estrella De Soria (1841)    7:56
2-4.    Sinfonie Singulière (Symphony No.3 In C Minor) (1845)    (27:53)
5.    Overture To The Queen Of Golconda (1864)    7:41
6-8.    Sinfonie Capricieuse (Symphony No.2 In D Major) (1842)    (27:20)
Tracklist 2 :
1.    Symphony In A Major, Fragment (1820)
(Edited By [Completed By] – Duncan Druce)
2-5.    Sinfonie Sérieuse (Symphony No.1 IN G Minor) (1842)    (30:38)
6-8.    Symphony No.4 In E Flat Major ("Sinfonie naïve") (1845)    (27:21)
Credits : 
Conductor – Roy Goodman
Cover [Illustration: "Dawn Over Riddarfjardin" (1899)] – Eugène Jansson
Leader [Swedish Radio SO] – Ulf Forsberg
Liner Notes – Roy Goodman
Orchestra – Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

FRANZ BERWALD : Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (Thomas Dausgaard) 2CD (2004) Two Version | APE (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Half a decade after their first release on Chandos, Brilliant Classics has re-released Thomas Dausgaard and the Danish National Radio Symphony's recording Berwald's four symphonies. The only thing that has changed between the two releases is the price. The quality of the pieces, the performances, and the sound remain as they were before. The pieces, of course, are far and away the best symphonies written by a Swede in the Romantic period. Highly imaginative, brilliantly scored, robustly rhythmic, formally inventive, and thoroughly melodic, Berwald's symphonies rank right below Mendelssohn and Schumann's symphonies in the post-Beethoven/pre-Brahms repertoire. The performances, while very good, are not quite great. A skillful conductor, Dausgaard clearly understands the music and manifestly feels some affection for it, but his performances are just a tad too heavy and a shade too dark for the ebullient Berwald. Where the music should run, it jogs, and where it should soar, it plods. The Danish musicians do an adequate job of getting through the scores, but their playing lacks shine and sparkle. Chandos' sound was a bit distant, but clear and colorful, and Brilliant's sound is exactly identical. Of the digital recordings, Okko Kamu's, Roy Goodman's, Sixten Ehrling's, and Herbert Blomstedt's are better choices. James Leonard 
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
Tracklist 1 :
1-4.    Sinfonie Sérieuse (Symphony No. 1) In G Minor
5.    Erinnerung An Die Norwegischen Alpen (Memory Of The Norwegian Alps)    
6-8.    Sinfonie Capricieuse (Symphony No. 2) In D Major
Tracklist 2 :
1-3.    Sinfonie Singulière (Symphony No. 3) In C Major
4.    Elfenspiel (Play Of The Elves) Tone Painting For Large Orchestra
5-8.    Sinfonie Naïve (Symphony No. 4) In E Flat Major
Credits : 
Conductor – Thomas Dausgaard
Orchestra – Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.  

FRANZ BERWALD : 4 Symphonies (Gothenburg SO · Neeme Järvi) 2CD | Three Version | APE + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
Tracklist 1 :
1-3.    Sinfonie Singulière (No 3) In C Major
4-6.    Sinfonie Capricieuse (No 2) In D Major
Tracklist 2 :
1-4.    Sinfonie "No 4" In E Flat Major
5-8.    Sinfonie Sérieuse (No 1)
Credits : 
Conductor – Neeme Järvi
Orchestra – Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra 

FRANZ BERWALD : Piano Quintets (Uppsala Chamber Soloists · Bengt-Åke Lundin) (2000) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless.cue), lossless

 For much of the nineteenth century in Sweden, music-making was confined to small-scale chamber music at home and ambitious composers had to move abroad to seek acceptance of their work. Whilst Berwald enjoyed some success in continental Europe, only a handful of his orchestral works were performed in Sweden during his lifetime. This caused him in later years to concentrate on chamber music, completing two piano quintets, two string quartets, three piano trios as well as duos for violin and piano and cello and piano. Berwald received much encouragement from his friend Liszt for his piano quintets, and dedicated his Quintet in A major to Liszt, a ‘true poetic master’. When Liszt received a score of the work he praised Berwald’s invention, skill and elegant style whilst adding, somewhat prophetically: ‘you truly possess originality but you will not enjoy success during your lifetime. Nevertheless you must persevere. naxos
FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-3.    Piano Quintet No. 1 In C Minor    (25:31)
4-7.    Piano Quintet No. 2 In A Major    (31:48)
8-9.    Two Movements From A Piano Quintet In A Major (5:31)
Credits : 
Orchestra – Uppsala Chamber Soloists
Piano – Bengt-Åke Lundin
Cover [painting] – Walter Moras

FRANZ BERWALD : The Complete String Quartets (The Yggdrasil Quartet) (1996) FLAC (tracks), lossless

FRANZ BERWALD (1796-1868)
1-4.    String Quartet No. 1 In G Minor (1818)  (32:30)
5-8.    String Quartet No. 2 In A Minor (1849)  (21:37)
9-13.    String Quartet No. 3 In E Flat Major (1849)  (21:47)
Ensemble – The Yggdrasil Quartet
Cello – Per Nyström 
Viola – Robert Westlund
Violin [II] – Per Öman
Violin [I] – Fredrik Paulsson