Repertoire: Oh, The Pain! Pettersson's Lacerating String Concertos

As if one wrist-slitting, excruciating essay in tormented string writing were not enough, Allan Pettersson wrote no less than three grim and gnarly Concertos for String Orchestra between 1949-57. All of them have been magnificently played and recorded by the BIS and cpo labels--performances which, if not exactly a "labor of love," were at the very least a "labor." Check out the samples, and brace yourself! Musical Examples courtesy of cpo Records.