He wrote one of the most famous piano concertos, plus a collection of much-loved tone poems, while his solo piano music anticipates that of Debussy in its bold harmonic progressions. Here are some of the best works by Edvard Grieg, and some of the best recordings of those works.
Best works by Grieg
Grieg’s Piano Concerto
Including one of the most famous concerto openings, Grieg’s sole completed work in the genre won Liszt’s admiration.
We named Grieg’s Piano Concerto as one of the best piano concertos of all time.
Best recording: Leif Ove Andsnes; Berlin Philharmonic/Mariss Jansons EMI 394 3992 (paired with an equally excellent rendition of the Schumann Piano Concerto)
Grieg’s Peer Gynt
Grieg’s incidental music to Ibsen’s drama includes two perennial hits – ‘Morning’ and the splendidly menacing ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’.
Best recording: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas Beecham EMI 965 9342
Grieg’s Lyric Pieces
These unassuming yet haunting pieces sowed the seeds for some of the most revolutionary and forward-looking music of the 20th century.
Best recording: Emil Gilels DG 449 7212
Grieg’s Holberg Suite
Classical grace appropriately informs this suite in homage to the 18th-century Norwegian-born playwright Ludvig Holberg, born a year before Bach, Handel and Scarlatti.
Best recording: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi
Grieg’s Haugtussa
Grieg’s genius is most evident in his songs, largely inspired by the singing talent of his wife. His song cycle Haugtussa (‘The Mountain Maid’) is one of his greatest works, with strikingly impressionistic piano writing.
Best recording: Katarina Karnéus (mezzo-soprano), Julius Drake (piano) Hyperion CDA 67670