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World famous ballet music in new recording

World famous ballet music in new recording

Knudåge Riisager’s famous music to Harald Lander’s ballet Etudes has at last appeared as a new recording by Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. The new release also includes Riisager’s personal and only violin concerto.

New release
15 January 2019

On 15 January 1948, Harald Lander’s ballet Etudes, with music by Knudåge Riisager, had its world premiere at The Royal Danish Theatre. Since then, the ballet has established itself worldwide and is regarded as the greatest Danish success in the history of ballet. Today – exactly 71 years later – Riisager’s music features in a new recording by Aarhus Symfoniorkester.

World success in the history of ballet

The German conductor Andreas Delfs heads the recording by Aarhus Symphony Orchestra of the composer Knudåge Riisager’s greatest international success.

Riisager (1897-1974) was drawn to the fine ‘twinkle in the eye’ of Carl Czerny’s Etudes, and wanted them to ‘sparkle like the fizz in mineral water’ when, at the end of the 1940s, he transcribed them for the ballet Etudes. The work contains Riisager’s characteristic trademark buoyancy and colourlightness and colouring of the music and, with Harald Lander’s choreography, the work has been performed at the greatest ballet venues all over the world since its premiere in 1948.

Riisager’s only violin concerto

Apart from the ballet music, the new release also includes Riisager’s only violin concerto, written in 1951.

The concerto is a highly personal contribution to the concerto genre where Riisager breaks with ‘common practice’ and has only two movements: a vegetating, contemplative first movement and an action-packed second movement.

Ian van Rensburg is soloist in therecording of the violin concerto, which was based on a revision of the score that Riisager made in collaboration with Wandy Tworek, to whom the concerto was dedicated and who gave it its first performance.

Aarhus Symphony Orchestra are specialised in Knudåge Riisager's music, and has earlier recorded both his ballet music and complete symphonic edition.
  • Knudåge Riisager

    Violin Concerto – Etudes

  • Knudåge Riisager

    Ballet Music

  • Knudåge Riisager

    The Symphonic Edition Vol. 1

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