The Trondheim Concertos

(...) The members of the Baroque Ensemble of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra do not try to show off; they are just darn good musicians, playing with deep respect for the music, the listener, and most probably enjoying themselves immensely in doing so. (...) From my experience, I know that Morton Lindberg doesn’t accept anything but the best and produces for the benefit of the audience the recorded material in a superabundance of formats. My setup doesn’t allow for Dolby Atmos or Auro-3D, but rest assured that listening to DXD 24bit/352.8kHz in DSD 128fs 5.1 surround is the cherry on the cake. Open and warm acoustics at any play-back level, though I usually try to get the sound as realistic as possible; as if I were present.

... the whole thing sounds wonderful through both headphones and speakers, and is in every way a demonstration recording that also contains fabulous music in superlative performances.

These are delightful performances by the Baroque Ensemble of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Superbly recorded (as always) by Morten Lindberg. Just a complete pleasure to hear! ...If you enjoy music of the Baroque, I encourage you to scoop this album straight up. The music is diverse, enjoyable, and very well played.

The repertoire on this album is historically hyper-exciting. The pieces are taken from manuscripts that have been in the collections of the Gunnerus Library for centuries, and are linked to members of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, established in 1760 at the height of the Enlightenment.

The plays tell volumes about what the high-ranking merchants in the region and the German officials who had been exiled (or promoted) to a position in Trondheim wanted to build around them. In short, timber, iron, copper and fish were to be balanced with science and culture; theatre, literature, French wine – and not least: Italian music.

The album consists of three violin concertos and a violin sonata. Among the concerts we find Vivaldi, of course – the great pop celebrity of his time. The "Ko-ko Concerto" – which should probably be called the "Nightingale Concerto" if you were more careful about what kind of bird is imitated – was one of the most popular violin concertos of the time. The other two concert composers wrote in the style inspired by him; Joseph Meck and the mysterious "Sigr. Opfermand," which you don't quite know who is. In addition, we get a sonata for violin, fortepiano and cello written by Johann Heinrich Berlin, son of city musician Johan Daniel Berlin.

The album is released on 2L, and sound magician Morten Lindberg puts a strong stamp on the entire project. The strings sound warm and big, the dynamics are nuanced, and the placement of the various instruments in the soundscape is well thought out and sophisticated.

It's probably a bit of taste and pleasure if you like such a "fat" string sound as we get presented here. At least I note that it's lovely when the violin sonata comes in as a "narrow" sonic contrast.

But on the whole, it's a rock-solid release. It is fabulously played, and especially Sigurd Imsen's fresh and inspired baroque violin makes it a pleasure to get an ear into Enlightenment Trondheim. Listen in particular: Sigr. Opfermand: "III. Allegro" from the Violin Concert in C minor

I’ve been planning this move to a bigger house with a bigger listening room for most of the year, and since it’s such a secluded location I’ve been chomping at the bit to crank the stereo as loud as I want – which turns out is not as loud as I think. Once I assembled the system, made up of mostly brand-new review gear, I chose the perfect recording to christen the listening room. I chose The Trondheim Concertos, from 2L Recordings in Norway.

The Trondheim Concertos provided me with the all-too-important confirmation that my new listening room was pretty close to ideal. I’m not talking about loud, or deep, but definitely full.

The nine-piece Baroque Ensemble of the Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Sigurd Imsen, violinist, performs these baroque compositions–from Joseph Meck, Johan Berlin and Antonio Vivaldi, with the common theme being manuscripts that are currently preserved in the Gunnerus Library in Trondheim. I do have a warm place in my heart for chamber music, especially that from the Baroque Era, but The Trondheim Concertos drew my attention through its combination of beautiful, flowing music and the usual astonishing sound quality from 2L.

The gift of The Trondheim Concertos doesn’t stop there, however. This is a small baroque ensemble, but its membership of instruments is varied in a way that injects life and originality into the performance. Just as Trio Mediæval’s An Old Hall Ladymass perplexed and enchanted me with its use of the organetto, this recording reveals a steady menu of surprise through such period instruments as fortepiano, violone, lute, theorbo–in addition to the more traditional harpsichord, pipe organ and strings.

That’s why The Trondheim Concertos is the right 2L recording at the right time. My larger listening room, along with some top-notch review components, have provided the space and the ideal tonality to present these instruments carefully, with perfect imaging, so that I can relax and listen and wallow in these uncommon timbres.

I’m still unpacking all the LPs and CDs after the move, pondering whether I should take this opportunity to re-organize my music collection, but the urgency of listening to a wide range of my favorite music has been curbed by this new star.