DACAPO RECORDS Hamerik: The Symphonies

Asger Hamerik is still one of the far too often overlooked great Danish composers. Dacapo has already introduced Hamerik to an audience through recordings of his complete symphonies and his Requiem. These profound works are here being reissued in an exclusive 4 SACD boxed set as Dacapo did earlier this year with Rued Langgaard s complete symphonies. This is grand Late Romantic music in the style of Berlioz, Hamerik s teacher, recorded by Thomas Dausgaard and Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra (Symphonies 1-6) and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra (Symphony no. 7 Choral and the Requiem). Review [Hamerik's] art was a fine addition to European culture. Top-notch sound from Dacapo makes this a highly enjoyable set. --Gramophone Although none of these symphonies was new to disc…the excellence of the present cycle - recorded between 1997 and 2005 - renders comparison largely superfluous. The SACD remastering is of benefit in clarifying the often dense textures and neutral colouring that in themselves confirm Hamerik as a composer of undoubtedly Nordic temperament. --International Record Review