Selected Songs Book Voice By Edvard Grieg

Henrik Ibsen's verse drama Peer Gynt, often described as a modem morality play, first appeared in 1867. When in 1874 Ibsen had the idea of adapting the work for stage performance, it was only natural that he should turn to Grieg for the incidental music, for the two had enjoyed a rewarding friendship for several years. Grieg, who had recently been heavily involved on his (uncompleted) opera Olav Trygvason, was not a little flattered to receive this invitation and he quickly agreed to undertake the project. However, although he was deeply impressed by Peer Gynt as a literary work, the composition of the incidental music caused him much difficulty. 'Peer Gynt progresses very slowly and there is no possibility of having it finished by autumn' , he wrote to a friend in August 1874. 'It is a tembly unmanageable subject’. The first performance of this new stage version of the work took place