Largely unappreciated during his lifetime, Berwald is today recognised as the outstanding Swedish composer of the 19th century, whose greatest and most original contribution was to orchestral repertoire, above all the four Symphonies (Naxos 8.553051 and 8.553052). These four rarely heard tone poems, written during the 1840s, the most creative period of the composer’s career, demonstrate Berwald’s gift for strikingly fresh ideas, unusual melodic patterns and daring harmonies.