Franz Berwald was a Swedish composer who, despite his significant talent, struggled to gain recognition during his lifetime. Born on July 23, 1796, in Stockholm, Berwald came from a family with strong musical roots; his grandfather and father were both musicians. Though he showed promise as a violinist and composer from an early age, he often found himself sidelined by the musical establishment in Sweden, which viewed his innovative compositions with skepticism.

During the 1820s and 1830s, Berwald tried to manage a career in music while dabbling in other professions, including running an orthopedic clinic and working in a glass factory. It wasn't until the latter part of his life that Berwald started to receive the recognition he deserved. His body of work includes a range of compositions from chamber music to symphonies, highlighted by his four symphonies which were composed in the 1840s. These pieces, often ahead of their time, melded classical forms with romantic expressiveness and are characterized by their originality and rich harmonic language. Among them, "Symphony No. 3 - 'Sinfonie singulière'" and "Symphony No. 4 - 'Sinfonie naïve'" are considered masterpieces. Unfortunately, Berwald's career never truly soared, and he passed away on April 3, 1868, largely unrecognized in his homeland. His music has been rediscovered and appreciated in modern times, showing Berwald as a distinctive voice who contributed uniquely to the symphonic repertoire.

Genres

Early Modern Classical

Early Romantic Era

Swedish Classical

Latest Release

Chamber Music, Vol. 2

Franz Berwald

Album - 7 Tracks - Released October 1, 2020