Michael Schonwandt

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 4 ("Inextinguishable"), Op 29/FS 76
Composed by Carl Nielsen

Conducted by Michael Schoenwandt

2. Symphony No. 5, Op 50/FS 97
Composed by Carl Nielsen
Performed by Tom Nybye, Niels Thomsen
Conducted by Michael Schoenwandt

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Carl Nielsen's mature symphonies have been well represented on disc. Considering the Fourth, for example, the listener can choose between Leonard Bernstein's searing account for CBS, Bryden Thomson's more sober approach, and Herbert Blomstedt's excellent Decca recording, all with very good sound. And for the Fifth, there's Bernstein again, in a classic recording that helped popularize Nielsen's music in the States, as well as Blomstedt and a handful of others. The Danes, however, have begun reclaiming Nielsen as their own, first rereleasing some historic recordings performed by the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and now a digital series with essentially the same organization conducted by Michael Schønwandt, who has returned to the manuscript sources for a somewhat more authentic Nielsen than we're used to hearing. But instead of offering the musicology lesson of the scholar-conductor, Schønwandt has recorded these symphonies in a way that, for sheer power, conviction, and natural presence, will delight Nielsen lovers and become the definitive versions for years to come.

Schønwandt persuades us to rethink some earlier recordings' excesses. He takes the composer's antiromanticism at his word ("A harp in the orchestra is a like a hair in the soup," Nielsen once remarked), but retains his ferocity and speed. The energy of this Fourth, the "inextinguishable" quality of life and art that it embodies, easily overpowers the score's occasional darkness and distress. But will we ever hear the battle of the timpani performed more fearsomely? The same goes for the snare drum's attempts to disrupt the narrative flow of the Fifth, which ultimately transcends discord. Nielsen responded to the brutality of the early 20th century by reaffirming the primacy of the creative force. Schønwandt's disc serves that purpose to the ultimate degree. --Robert Burns Neveldine

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4, FS 76 'The Inextinguishable': Allegro - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 4, FS 76 'The Inextinguishable': Poco allegretto - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 4, FS 76 'The Inextinguishable': Poco adagio quasi andante - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 4, FS 76 'The Inextinguishable': Con anima - Allegro - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: I Tempo giusto - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: Adagio non troppo - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: II Allegro - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: Presto - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: Andante un poco tranquillo - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 5, FS 97: Allegro - Carl Nielsen

Tracks:

Symphony No. 6, FS 116 'Sinfonia semplice': I Tempo Giusto - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 6, FS 116 'Sinfonia semplice': II Humoreske: Allegretto - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 6, FS 116 'Sinfonia semplice': III Proposta seria: Adagio - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 6, FS 116 'Sinfonia semplice': IV Tema con variazioni - C. Nielsen
Little Suite For Strings, FS 6: I Praludium - C. Nielsen
Little Suite For Strings, FS 6: II Intermezzo - C. Nielsen
Little Suite For Strings, FS 6: III Finale - C. Nielsen
Hymnus amoris, FS 21: I Amor mihi vitam donat - C. Nielsen
Hymnus amoris, FS 21: II Amor est dolor meus - C. Nielsen
Hymnus amoris, FS 21: III Amor est pax mea - C. Nielsen

Customer Reviews:

5 stars all the way!!!!!.......2005-04-17

This set has changed the way I see Scandinavian music. Nielsen is a great composer and all his symphonies are up there among the very best of their era. He is bolder than the well-known Grieg and Sibelius and his music has something fresh. The playing of the SFSO under Herbert Blomstedt (have you hear the recording of Mahler's 2nd with the same contributors? One of the very best...) and the Decca sound really add to the great experience. The other pieces are good too but don't have the excitement of the symphonies- still a welcome addition. A must for all music lovers.

One of the greatest symphonies ever.......2001-04-22

The greatest symphonies are not only peerless works of art, but they also speak profoundly and prophetically from the historical context out of which they were conceived. In this respect, I've always considered Shostakovich's Fifth and Ives's Fourth as the two greatest symphonies of the last century. Then I discovered Nielsen's Fifth...

Nielsen's Fifth, as performed by Blomstedt in this recording, is a stunning, miraculous, amazing, tragic, and ultimately life-affirming masterpiece. Written in the wake of the Great War when the scope of its horror had become fully apparent to the composer, it speaks profoundly and prophetically of the rise of nationalism, fascism, and the eternal conflict between a peaceful social discourse and the war-machine of the state.

The two other symphonies on this album are also noteable. The Fourth is a near great work, which was also written during the Great War and deals with the "Inextinguishable" spirit of mankind. The Sixt!h is enigmatic, iconoclastic, humorous.

Everyone interested in 20th Century classical music should purchase this complete set of Nielson symphonies. It will quickly become a treasured part of any music collection.

Nielsen rocks!.......2000-07-21

First off, the Blomstedt recordings are exceptional, for both symphonies 1-3 and 4-6. The music included in addition to the symphonies is great fun, especially the "Hymnus Amoris," on the 4-6 release, which is an excellent, thoroughly enjoyable choral work. The recording is demonstration quality--clear, crisp definition with great performances. Nielsen is a highly original symphonic composer. In that way, he is like Sibelius. But he also demonstrates an intriguing quirkiness in his compositional style. By quirky I mean that his symphonies go through fits of ecstasy, melancholy, joy, eeriness, and solemnity, often within the space of mere minutes of listening. It takes a few listens to get into it. I enjoy it very much, though. "The Inextinguishable" has melodic elements in the first movement such as would melt the heart, and these fine moments are given a noble return in the finale, along with great use of tympani drums. The fifth and sixth are the especially quirky ones, the sixth the quirkiest of all. But chances are, if you're looking into Nielsen, you want to embrace music that contains vitality and a rich depth of expression... if so, you will really come to love all the orchestral works on these discs for their shifting intricacies, evolving patterns, and subtle orchestrations, and I will recommend it all wholeheartedly. These are great orchestral works.

More Great Music!.......2000-07-01

The Blomstedt Nielsen cycle was originally issued on 3 cds with two symphonies each, but it has now been put onto 2 double cds, making the deal even more attractive. The fourth and fifth are among my favorite symphonies, and the SF symphony gives as fine a performance as I know of them. Just listen to the opening tuba blast in the 'Inextinguishable' and you know you're in for something special.

Average customer rating:

From Robert Layton's Review in Gramophone
Nice sonics, bland interpretations
Essential Nielsen symphonies
Magnificent but not exactly easy listening

Nielsen: Symphonies 4 & 5

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6
Nielsen : Symphonies 2 & 3 / San Francisco Symphony / Herbert Blomstedt
Hindemith: Symphony 'Mathis der Maler'/Trauermusik/Symphonic Metamorphosis
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Witold Lutoslawski: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 / Les Espaces du Sommeil - John Shirley-Quirk / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Esa-Pekka Salonen

ASIN: B0000041UI
Release Date: 1988-06-13

Tracks:

Sym No.4 'The Inextinguishable': Allegro
Sym No.4 'The Inextinguishable': Poco Allegretto
Sym No.4 'The Inextinguishable': Poco Adagio Quasi Andante
Sym No.4 'The Inextinguishable': Con Anima - Allegro
Sym No.5: I. Tempo Giusto -
Sym No.5: Adagio Non Troppo
Sym No.5: II. Allegro -
Sym No.5: Presto -
Sym No.5: Andante Un Poco Tranquillo -
Sym No.5: Allegro

Amazon.com

The composer that Nielsen resembles more than any other as a symphonist is Beethoven. Naturally the idiom is a bit more modern (though firmly tonal and melodic), but there's the same sense of drama, energy, and musical concentration that you find in Beethoven's symphonies. When you listen to Nielsen's music, you can't miss the sense of purpose--the music has a goal and will literally overcome any hurdle to get there. That's exactly what happens in these two splendid symphonies. Herbert Blomstedt has been a forceful proponent of Nielsen's music for his entire career, and he plays with total commitment. -- David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

Herbert Blomstedt has the full measure of Nielsen's music, and this 1987 coupling of the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, impossible before the advent of CD, is the ideal one. These are excellent performances, knowingly shaped and magnificently played. London provides a state-of-the-art recording, in a living, breathing, spacious ambience. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

From Robert Layton's Review in Gramophone.......2006-04-19

Blomstedt recorded Nielsen's complete orchestral works with the Danish Radio orchestra in the mid 1970s on an eight-LP set for EMI, so he is no stranger to this repertoire. But his later records of Strauss's Ein Heldenleben and Bruckner's Fourth and Seventh with the Staatskapelle, Dresden (all on Denon) show him to have grown in depth and stature. I can recall his debut in Stockholm in the mid-1950s when he conducted. a very well prepared if rather cool account of Hindemith's Mathis Symphony.

Blomstedt's new opening has splendid fire: this must sound as if galaxies are forming, in tempo and character it is close to the inspiring 1952 Jensen broadcast on a Danacord LP and to Grondahl's LP. Generally speaking Blomstedt is less circumspect than he was in his earlier set and less frightened of letting things rip. You may remember the composer's oft-quoted simile concerning the soaring string lines in the slow movement ('like the eagle riding on the wind'). Simon Rattle (EMI) is tremendously intense, almost pesante here, and does not follow the change of metronome marking between the opening (crotchet= 52-56) and at fig. 32 (crotchet=68) to such striking effect. Blomstedt conveys Nielsen's image most strikingly and there is much in this movement that is sensitive and atmospheric. The finale is exhilarating yet held on a firm rein.

Blomstedt's Fifth Symphony, too, is impressive: it starts perfectly and is almost as icy in atmosphere as Jensen (Decca LP) or Tuxen (EMI LP), and the climax is well handled. The desolate clarinet peroration comes offmost successfully too. He brings one closer to the music than he did in his 1975 recording and I prefer his finale to Chung (both the fugal episodes come off better) and to Salonen who broadens the closing bars to the point of bombast (forgivable youthful impetuosity no doubt but tiresome on repetition). Nielsen's Fifth is probably better than it can be played but this new account is certainly among the finest now on the market. Ole Schmidt's performances (Unicorn-Kanchana) of both symphonies still strike me as having something special to say even if neither the orchestral playing nor the recording is the equal of the newcomer.

Blomstedt's recording balance could not be improved upon: the woodwind are decently recessed (though clarinet keys are audible at times) and there is an almost ideal relationship between the various orchestra sections as well as a thoroughly realistic overall perspective. He obviously has a good rapport with the orchestra, who sound in excellent shape and respond to these scores as to the manner born. I hope he is introducing his fellow musicians to the Stenhammar and Berwald symphonies and that he will persuade Decca to give us a new version of Hilding Rosenberg's Third and better still what would be a premiere recording of Hortulanus, his Fifth (and to my mind greatest) symphony.

Nice sonics, bland interpretations.......2005-09-18

You would never know from Blomstedt's steady and controlled Sym 5 that Nielsen was horrified by, and wanted to portray, the traumatic battlefields of World War I. Similarly, you would never guess at the indomitable strength behind the Fourth Sym, the Inextinguishable. These are expert, straight-ahead readings in fine soud, but there is no magic of the kind transmitted in both works by Bernstein or in the Fourth by Karajan, among others.

Essential Nielsen symphonies.......2003-11-21

When Herbert Blomstedt first became music director of the San Francisco Symphony in the fall of 1985, there was little doubt that the orchestra would finally play the symphonies of Carl Nielsen. I had first discovered Nielsen's music through Vanguard imports of recordings by Sir John Barbirolli and the Halle Orchestra, recorded in the mid 1960's. From listening to those milestone recordings, it was immediately clear that Nielsen, who lived from 1865 to 1931, was highly original and imaginative.

Among the first Nielsen symphonies I heard was the fourth, which he subtitled "Inextinguishable." The recording almost sounded as if was had joined the music in progress. Perhaps Nielsen intended to convery that the music HAD been going on for some time. The symphony certainly doesn't stop, once it begins.

As much as I enjoyed Barbirolli's wonderful recording (originally issued in England on the Pye label), Blomstedt's 1987 performance with the San Francisco Symphony is even better. It is absolutely unbelievable in its intensity, even when we come to the intriguing second movement. After some absolute bombast and turbulence, with brass scorings that reminded me of Anton Bruckner, the music subsides to something quiet, light, and rather humorous. It is not as satirical or sarcastic as Nielsen's last symphony (the sixth), but the second movement is definitely a great contrast to the tragic intensity of the other movements.

Blomstedt succeeds in getting the San Francisco musicians to play with their hearts and clearly shows that things have changed the occasional inconsistency that emerged under Jorda, Krips, Ozawa, and DeWaart. The orchestra had actually steadily improved once Josef Krips took over in 1963, after a terrible decline during Enrique Jorda's tenure (1954 to 1963). Yet there were problems even after that, particularly with sloppy playing by the brass; none of that is the case in the Nielsen symphonies recorded here.

Blomstedt was born in the U.S. to Danish parents and spent most of his life in Europe before coming to San Francisco. Not surprisingly, he developed a great love for the music of Carl Nielsen, who was born the same year as the Finnish master Jean Sibelius but went in a much different musical direction.

Nielsen's fifth symphony is almost agonizing at times. It uses a snare drum and other percussion to create a musical impression of an advancing army. Was Nielsen reacting to the events of World War I? Typically, Nielsen would have resisted calling this a "war" symphony, but it definitely belongs to a turbulent period of European history. The program notes say that Nielsen led a "quiet" life, but he clearly expressed himself in his music and this is one of his most powerful musical expressions. The San Francisco orchestra plays with great passion and precision at the same time.

The fourth and fifth symphonies were the first works the San Francisco Symphony recorded for London/Decca, after making a number of recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and Phillips under Seiji Ozawa and Edo DeWaart. The recording was the beginning of a very fine association with the British recording company.

Magnificent but not exactly easy listening.......2003-10-09

Carl Nielsen really cannot be lumped into any category; he is what he is, and the listener must take him on his terms, which is sometimes easier said than done. His symphonies are challenging to listen to; I usually listen to them on headphones so that I can fully appreciate the full complexity of his harmonies and thematic development.

The 5th symphony is particularly challenging. Sometimes it can be just plain weird...it is almost always unsettling. Set in two movements, it seems always to be dealing with a threatening unknown, just looming over the horizon. In the first movement, this manifests itself with a creepy military drumbeat which comes & goes throughout the movement. Instability permeates the movement...it finally ends on a calm but hardly settling note. The second movement is still settled although not as creepy. There is a slower interlude --- calm but anguished at points --- which leads to one last burst of manic energy before ending grandly on an E flat major chord, which really seems to come out of nowhere. Even the triumphant conclusion contributes to overall unsettling nature of the work.

The 4th Symphony, "The Inextinguishable," typcially displays Nielsen's tendency of hovering around a tonal base, but never quite giving the listener that which he yearns for. The symphony is struggling towards a final triumphant conclusion, and finally achieves it, but not before a rough musical road has been travelled.

Tracks:

Buxtehude: Fanfare - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/William Scarlett/Charles Geyer/Dale Clevenger/Jay Friedman...
We Are Enormously Complex
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 1st Movt: Allegro
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 2nd Movt: Andante
Hn Con No.1 in E flat: 3rd Movt: Allegro
The Musician Plays The Instrument
Playing For The Audience
Programming The Brain
Czardas
Carnival Of Venice
Con: 1st Movt
Etude No.24
'Czardas' With The Metronome
This Is An Art Form
We Play By Song And Wind
Canzon Per Sonare No.2 - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Dale Clevenger/Jay Friedman/Arnold Jacobs
Lohengrin: King Heinrich's Call (Exc) - Jay Friedman/Arnold Jacobs
Sym Fantastique: Dies Irae
Become A Singer In Your Brain
There Must Be A Source Of Vibration
Breath As A Motor Force
Sonatine: 1st Movt: Allegro Vivo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 2nd Movt: Andante Ma Non Troppo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 3rd Movt: Allegro Vivo - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Sonatine: 4th Movt: Largo; Allegro - Adolph Herseth/Vincent Cichowicz/Richard Oldberg/Frank Crisafulli/Arnold Jacobs
Keeping Music As An Art Form
Breathe To Expand
F Tuba Demonstration With Berlioz
Romeo And Juliet (Exc) - Chicago SO/Carlo Maria Giulini
Con: 2nd Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner
Petrouchka (Exc) - Chicago SO/James Levine
Sym No.4: 1st Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Jean Martinon
Sym No.4: 1st Movt (Exc) - Chicago SO/Daniel Barenboim
The Key For Communicating In Music
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev (Exc) - Chicago SO/Fritz Reiner

Customer Reviews:

Jacobs was overrated.......2005-09-28

Arnold Jacobs was a brilliant man who could have succeeded in practically any profession. He was also a fine musical pedagogue, judging from his verbal insights on this CD with respect to the human body as a musical instrument. Yet, I am amazed that he rose to the rank of tubist in a world-class orchestra such as the Chicago Symphony. Frankly, I found his tone quality uninspiring, although he had fine techinque. I have heard at least half a dozen tubists whose tone is far more pleasing musically. Among the bassmen/women of the world, Jacobs has become a semi-divine entity. I believe that he has been somewhat overrated as a result. I felt that his verbal commentaries were highly educational; I was disappointed by his playing overall.

The Great Arnold Jacobs Captured on C.D........2005-04-02

This is a prolific set of audio that captures the historical sound of Arnold Jacobs' playing and teaching. I bought this C.D. because I wanted to explore the limits and capabilities of a tuba player so that I could see if playing music on the tuba was for me. This C.D. banished any doubt that I had about the ability of a tuba player to achieve at the utmost musical level. I have never meet Mr. Jacobs in real life, but this C.D. made me feel as if I was in a master class or recital hall listening to him myself. I would recommend this C.D. to anyone who loves music. As Arnold Jacbos said " It's not about the tuba, it's about music".

arnold jacobs.......2001-05-16

This cd tries to capture arnold jacobs: a prolific teacher, player and above all a great man. while listening, you'll discover the ideals, the methods and ideas that made arnold jacobs the best tuba player that there'll probably ever be. The more complex issues and artistry of brass playing are explained in simple words and sayings. a great deal of jacobs' lectures is also given, and you can also see the importance of understanding the functioning of other body units that help us trough our playing (the brain). a great disc, highly recommended, not only for tuba players, but for all brass players.

inspiring technician musician artist.......2000-09-01

Cannot agree more,this is a wonderful exposition of Jacobs the teacher,for he had developed working concepts any wind player could adopt.His studio in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago was like a mecca for all wind players coming to Jacobs to resolve some deep-rooted performing problem. As he says( my paraphrasing) " they get tied up in knots,worrying about all the motions of the lip. . .you can't think about all those motions for they are thousands of motions from the brain to engage in performing a brass instrument "

As a brass player myself,(trombone & tuba) I have always sensed we have little repertoire to play of any interest,but Jacobs in a lecture here reveals this problem and one way to solve it, is to consciously search for things to play,like an aria from Puccini,or a particular non-tuba passage,to duplicate it,a piano or violin solo. What this approach implies is then for the brass player to develop skills as a consummate musician/ virtuoso,for you are forever challenged then to expand your repertoire endlessly,as much as the instrument or your technique will allow. I now find myself playing Chopin Preludes(Eb-minor,B-minor melodies only) on the trombone,and contrabass orchestral excerpts or trumpet etudes on the tuba,and Jacobs encourages tuba players to learn to read treble clef to be able to read any melody.

There are wonderful examples here from all genres in music from solo etudes in his studio to Berlioz and Wagner excerpts, solo and within the context of the orchestra. It all reveals the seemless consistent sound Jacobs was able to summon from his York tuba. Every attach was uniform,every tone even and pure,at least that is what he heard in his ear. That's another Jacobs credo,you have to have the sound in your head,what do you want your listener to hear. You command that.

The Bozza Sonatine(brass quintet) is also a wonderful performance of great brass music,great use of colours and entrances,breaking down the quintet into smaller duets and trios.This all with Chicago Symphony players makes it all the more interesting,a vintage performance from 1966.I recall those days where solo brass was considered an oddity,and unaccompanied solos even more so.

Jacob's sound should remain in your mind's hearing to duplicate it. Eugene Pokorny (Jacob's Chicago Symphony successor) also provides insightful interesting notes here.

Arnold Jacobs - Icon of education and performance.......2000-08-23

Amazing! For the students who studied directly with Arnold Jacobs, "Protrait of an Artist" will take you back to his studio, sitting right next to him. This excellent collection of lectures (lessons) and demonstrations are a fantastic embodiment of Arnold Jacobs' concepts and teachings. It is certainly a must for any music performer or educator. From the samples of CSO performances at the end of this CD to the practice tapes, the music on this CD is truely inspirational.

Average customer rating:

The Last of the Royal Editions

Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Nielsen: Symphonies 3 & 5
Symphony No. 14 The Royal Edition, No. 79 Of 100: Dmitri Shostakovich

ASIN: B0000027N5
Release Date: 1993-06-22

Tracks:

I. Allegro Collerico
II. Allegro Comodo E Flemmatico
III. Andante Malincolico
IV. Allegro Sanguineo
I. Allegro
II. Poco Allegretto
III. Poco Adagio Quasi Andante
IV. Allegro

Amazon.com

Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius are the two greatest composers to have emerged from the Scandanavian countries in the 20th century. They both have a series of successful symphonies, all of which still exist on CD in many editions. These are two classic recordings done by Leonard Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic. Bernstein's take on these works are toward a stronger dynamism, especially in the opening gestures of each work. Some critics don't like this, but the Symphony 4 , The Inextinguishable, of 1916 needs it. It requires a powerful launch for the ideas that are to follow. Highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

The Last of the Royal Editions.......2003-07-28

Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic's recordings of Nielsen's 2nd and 4th Symphonies is one of the last titles available in the classic Sony Royal Edition series. While many of these titles have been reissued in the Bernstein Century series, this one has not, which probably accounts for its current availability. These performances from the early 1970s (and the Royal Edition CD coupling Nielsen's 3rd and 5th Symphonies) have always impressed me, and they are comparable in quality to both of the well-respected Nielsen Symphony Cycles by Herbert Blomstedt. If you are interested in this title, I would move fast as most Bernstein Royal Edition titles are now out of print, and most likely this one will suffer the same fate shortly.

Nielsen: Symphony No4; Vaughan Williams: Symphony No5

Average customer rating:

Nielsen: Symphony No4; Vaughan Williams: Symphony No5

Manufacturer: Virgin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005A9NV
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Con, Op.33: I. Praeludium: Largo - Arve Tellefsen
Con, Op.33: II. Allegro Cavallersco - Arve Tellefsen
Con, Op.33: III. Poco Adagio - Arve Tellefsen
Con, Op.33: IV. Rondo: Allegretto Scherzando - Arve Tellefsen
Sym No.4, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': I. Allegro - Poco Allegretto - Arve Tellefsen
Sym No.4, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': II. Poco Adagio Quasi Andante - Allegro - Arve Tellefsen

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in D: Prld: Moderato - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Sym No.5 in D: Scherzo: Presto - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Sym No.5 in D: Romanza: Lento - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Sym No.5 in D: Passacaglia: Moderato - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Con: Toccata: Allegro Moderato - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Con: Romanza: Lento - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway
Con: Fuga Chromatica Con Finale Alla Tedesca: Allegro - Ralph Markham/Kenneth Broadway

Average customer rating:

A Very Solid Nielsen Symphony Cycle, But...

Nielsen: Complete Symphonies

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000ARR
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Customer Reviews:

A Very Solid Nielsen Symphony Cycle, But..........2004-01-12

Bryden Thomson and the Royal Scottish Orchestra give very solid, committed performances of all six of Carl Nielsen's symphonies. I had the pleasure of listening to this set at my university's music library while an undergraduate music student. The sound quality, as one can expect from the Chandos label, is excellent.

However, Bryden Thomson seems to have some strange tempi, sometimes too fast at crucial climaxes in the symphonies. An example of this is the first movement of Nielsen's First Symphony. At one of the big orchestral G Minor sections he starts out very slowly, then picks up too much, sounding rushed and awkward. The symphony still comes off very nicely, but there are other times when the orchestra plays too loudly, distorting the sound.

Furthermore, the Nielsen symphonies remain a very competitive realm, both quality-wise and price-wise. While this is a nice set, there is absolutely no reason for you to purchase it when you can buy Herbert Blomstedt's outstanding Nielsen symphony cycle with the San Francisco Symphony (two London "Double Decca" CD's). It even includes several of Nielsen's important orchestral works ("Aladdin" Suite, "Maskarade" Overture, Hymnus Amoris), whereas Thomson's set is restricted to symphonies only.

Tracks:

I. Allegro Espansivo
II. Andante Pastorale - Christian Immler
III. Allegretto Un Poco
IV. Finale: Allegro
I. Allegro
II. Poco Allegretto
III. Poco Adagio Quasi Andante
IV. Allegro

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt

Average customer rating:

Strong but idiosyncratic

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt
Carl Nielsen , Michael Schoenwandt , Tom Nybye , Niels Thomsen , and Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Da Capo [Naxos]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004TVF1
Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

Sym No.4, FS 76, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': Allegro
Sym No.4, FS 76, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': Poco Allegretto
Sym No.4, FS 76, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': Poco Adagio Quasi Andante
Sym No.4, FS 76, Op.29 'The Inextinguishable': Con Anima - Allegro
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: I. Tempo Giusto -
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: I. Adagio
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: II. Allegro -
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: II. Presto
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: II. Andante Poco Tranquillo -
Sym No.5, FS 97, Op.50: II. Allegro (Tempo I)

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Carl Nielsen's mature symphonies have been well represented on disc. Considering the Fourth, for example, the listener can choose between Leonard Bernstein's searing account for CBS, Bryden Thomson's more sober approach, and Herbert Blomstedt's excellent Decca recording, all with very good sound. And for the Fifth, there's Bernstein again, in a classic recording that helped popularize Nielsen's music in the States, as well as Blomstedt and a handful of others. The Danes, however, have begun reclaiming Nielsen as their own, first rereleasing some historic recordings performed by the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and now a digital series with essentially the same organization conducted by Michael Schønwandt, who has returned to the manuscript sources for a somewhat more authentic Nielsen than we're used to hearing. But instead of offering the musicology lesson of the scholar-conductor, Schønwandt has recorded these symphonies in a way that, for sheer power, conviction, and natural presence, will delight Nielsen lovers and become the definitive versions for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Strong but idiosyncratic.......2002-10-09

The energy, passion, and recording quality of these performances has helped me enjoy them despite the fact that the interpretive style is not to my taste. It is a rather heavy, romantic approach, with sometimes very broad tempos that occasionally come near to (but not quite) bogging the music down. The conductor doesn't always achieve the rhythmic or textural clarity of others, but the climaxes are powerful nonetheless. Recommended if you are a Nielsen completist or if this approach suits you.

Average customer rating:

Discover the Symphony

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000G2P7
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

Allegro - City Of London Sinfonia
Allegro Di Molto - Yoon K. Lee
Allegro - New Zealand Chamber Orchestra
Menuetto: Allegretto - Capella Istropolitana
Molto Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Finale: Allegro Assai Vivace: Alla Marcia - Claudio Otelli
Allegretto - Michael Halasz
Saltarello: Presto - National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland
Poco Allegretto - Alexander Rahbari
March To The Scaffold - Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Scherzo: Bewegt - Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra
Allegro Con Grazia - Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

Allegretto Grazioso - Molto Vivace - Stephen Gunzenhauser
Presto - Imrich Szabo
Kraftig Bewegt, Doch Nicht Zu Schnell - Michael Halasz
Allegro Molto - BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Epilogue - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Scherzo - Adrian Leaper
Adagio - Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Allegro Sanguinoso - National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland
Molto Vivace - Stephen Gunzenhauser
Allegretto - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Allegro - Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Unbeatable Nielsen

Nielsen: Symphonies/Concertos

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000016JR
Release Date: 1994-10-12

Tracks:

I. Allegro Orgoglioso
II. Andante
III. Allegro Comodo
IV. Finale. Allegro Con Fuoco
I. Allegro Collerico
II. Allegro Comodo E Flemmatico
III. Andante Malincolico
IV. Allegro Sanguineo

Tracks:

I. Allegro Espansivo
II. Andante Pastorale
III. Allegretto Un Poco
IV. Finale. Allegro
I. Tempo Giusto - Adagio Non Troppo
II. Allegro - Andante Un Poco Tranquillo - Allegro

Tracks:

I. Allegro - Neeme Jarvi
II. Poco Allegretto - Neeme Jarvi
III. Poco Adagio Quasi Andante - Neeme Jarvi
Con Anima - IV. Allegro - Neeme Jarvi
I. Tempo Giusto - Neeme Jarvi
II. Humoreske. Allegretto - Neeme Jarvi
III. Proposta Seria. Adagio - Neeme Jarvi
IV. Tema Con Variazioni: Allegro - Variations 1-9 - Fanfare - Neeme Jarvi

Tracks:

I. Praeludium. Largo - Allegro Cavalleresco
II. Poco Adagio
III. Rondo. Allegretto Scherzando
I. Allegro Moderato - Orchestra
II. Allegretto - Adagio Ma Non troppo - Allegretto - Tempo Di Marcia - Orchestra
Allegretto Un Poco - Poco Adagio - Allegro Non Troppo - Adagio - Allegro Vivace - Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Unbeatable Nielsen.......2002-10-09

Myung-whun Chung and Neme Jarvi are both ideal Nielsen interpreters, combining power with soaring lyricism. This set includes some of the best performances of the symphonies you'll hear. Chung's account of the 3rd is the best I've ever heard (I've heard about all currently available), with powerful outer movements and a tempo in the pastorale that allows it the breadth it should have in a symphony named "The Expansive." Likewise, Chung's other performances, including the 5th, are among the best. Jarvi is equally good in the 4th and 6th. The concerto performances continue in the same vein, and are highly satisfying. The sound quality is excellent. Recommended very, very highly.

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