DAVID MONRAD JOHANSEN (1888-1974): Piano Concerto in E Flat, Op. 29, Pan, Op. 22, JOHAN KVANDAL (1919-1999): Piano Concerto, Op. 85.

Description: Father and son: like Harald Sæverud and Ketil Hvoslef, the son chose not to have his father's shadow over him, professionally speaking. Monrad Johansen's 12-minute tone-poem Pan is his best-known work, dating from 1938 and inhabiting an atmosphere of nature mysticism whose opening may remind you of the young Bax but which equally comes through Impressionism. The concerto (1955) shows him as a true link in the tradition of Grieg (of whom he was also the principal biographer in Norway) with beautiful folk-like melodies popping up like spring flowers in the outer movements. Kvandal's concerto dates from 1998, his last work, and also makes use of Norwegian folk melodies. In fact, he's not unlike Tveitt in the latter's piano concertos although the orchestration is less lush and massive (and the second movement here opens with a long tuba solo!). The combination of national tradition and a more cosmopolitan experience than his father (he also studied in Paris with Boulanger) allowed for a personal, approachable style both attractive and bracing. Håvard Gimse (piano), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra; Christian Eggen, Ole Kristian Ruud (Kvandal).