Symfonie Nr 8, Harpconcert (2001)

"De Achtste Symfonie overspoelt je met mysterieuze welluidendheid en monumentale bombast." (Aad van der Ven, Luister) Dubbele tien (voor uitvoering en registratie) op Classics Today: "Leif Segerstam shapes the soaring lyrical lines of the first movement into large, coherent paragraphs (listen to how effortlessly the climax about eight minutes into the first movement blossoms forth), then blasts through the scherzo with virtuosic abandon, lets the gorgeous yet brief slow movement really breathe, and finds more coloristic variety in the grandly imposing finale than the live performance ever suggested. Subtitled "The Journey", the work does indeed move purposefully from the mysterious murmuring of its opening to its triumphant conclusion, and makes a worthy successor to the already famous "Angel of Light" Seventh Symphony. The Harp Concerto is, in its way, even more extraordinary. Of all concertos for harp and orchestra, this one is the finest." (klik op de link voor de complete tekst)