Hallström: Duke Magnus and the Mermaid
Soloists
Korköpping Symphony Orchestra
Nicklaus Willén
Another composer I knew nothings about. Hallström was born in Stockholm in 1826 and studied law rather than music. But he had a long composing career and this, the first of his four operas, in generally considered to be the first real Swedish opera as opposed to a play with music.
This is an opera very much in the German Singspiel tradition and the influence of Weber and his school is very clear , though there are some moments which seem to come from opéra comique. I found the first act enjoyable enough without being particularly memorable but the second and third acts (the latter quite short) had more to offer. There was a lightness of touch about these two acts and some attractive folk-derived music, which towards the end almost turned the piece into more of a ballad opera. There was real charm about the best of the music here and it certainly was well worth listening to. I can’t see the opera having much success on the modern stage as it is something of a period piece, but on its own terms it was attractive and I am glad that I heard it.
