Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
You could certainly be forgiven for not having heard Maskarade. Although it became Denmark's "national opera" almost from its premiere in 1906, it hasn't traveled. That's our loss, as it's also one of the few comic operas of the 20th century to exude genuine, life-enhancing comedy. The plot isn't simply described: like Smetana's The Bartered Bride, it concerns the goings-on at a specific time and place--with all the misunderstandings and reconciliations this implies. It's also very much an ensemble opera, the cast dovetailing their roles into each other at high speed, and this aspect comes over so well here. Even without visuals, you're drawn into the thick of the action and held there for the two-and-a-half hours it takes to resolve the many confusions. Aage Haugland and Susanne Resmark are fully in tune with their characters, but it's invidious to single out soloists in what is a fine all-around performance, conducted with gusto by Ulf Schirmer. Go ahead, indulge yourself. --Richard Whitehouse

Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer, Music, Carl Nielsen, Ulf Schirmer, Aage Haugland, Bo Skovhus, Danish National Royal Synphonic Orchestra and Choir, Henriette Bonde-Hansen, Susanne Resmark Marianne Rørholm, Classical, Classical Music, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta, Scandinavian 20th/21st Century Opera

Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer
Average customer rating:

Can I see it live, please?!!

Incredible disc

Charming Opera

First-class recording/performances

Spectacular performance of a Danish musical gem!

Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer
Carl Nielsen , Ulf Schirmer , Aage Haugland , Bo Skovhus , Danish National Royal Synphonic Orchestra and Choir , Henriette Bonde-Hansen , and Susanne Resmark Marianne Rørholm
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000JSAI
Release Date: 1999-08-10

Tracks:

Maskarade: Ouverture
Maskarade: Act 1: Aa ja, aa ja ja
Maskarade: Fkommer, fog fus
Maskarade: Herre, I staar saa stum
Maskarade: Er der nogen hjemme?
Maskarade: Kan I v rolige ?
Maskarade: Det Satans Spind
Maskarade: Hr. Leonard, Herrens tilkommende Svoger
Maskarade: Her er jeg, Husbond
Maskarade: I dette Land hvor solskin er saa kummerligt beskaaret
Maskarade: Det skal aldrig ske
Maskarade: Act Two: Forspil - Prelude
Maskarade: Hov, Ver, Klokken er slagen otte
Maskarade: Mellem Kande, Krus og Potte
Maskarade: Ha-a-a! Ha-a-a! Ha!
Maskarade: Af Sted ! Af Sted !
Maskarade: Herre ! Herre ! Kom kun frem!
Maskarade: Men Herre, se! Som Venus steg af Havet
Maskarade: Ht Ord, Kavaler!

Tracks:

Maskarade: Act Two: (cont.) Luk Op! Luk Op!
Maskarade: Porten Er Aaben, Borte Er Hoben
Maskarade: Se Saa! Se Saa! Nu Er Jeg Ret Bered
Maskarade: Act 3. Gaa Af Vejen! Gaa Af Vejen!
Maskarade: Giv Lyd, Godtfolk, At Vi Kan H Re Tonen!
Maskarade: At Slig Er Ungersvend I Sin Tale
Maskarade: Ulignelige Pige
Maskarade: Min S De Balsamb Sse
Maskarade: Hanedansen - Dance of the Cockerels
Maskarade: O Kom, Min Ven
Maskarade: Ak, Hr. Magister
Maskarade: GjoR Plads! GjoR Plads!
Maskarade: Hvor Bacchus Er, Maa Mars Og Venus VaeRe
Maskarade: Du Er Min Ven, Kom Lad Os Drikke Dus
Maskarade: Tramtrara! Tramtrara!
Maskarade: Kehraus! Kehraus! Dans Ud! Dans Ud!

Amazon.com

You could certainly be forgiven for not having heard Maskarade. Although it became Denmark's "national opera" almost from its premiere in 1906, it hasn't traveled. That's our loss, as it's also one of the few comic operas of the 20th century to exude genuine, life-enhancing comedy. The plot isn't simply described: like Smetana's The Bartered Bride, it concerns the goings-on at a specific time and place--with all the misunderstandings and reconciliations this implies. It's also very much an ensemble opera, the cast dovetailing their roles into each other at high speed, and this aspect comes over so well here. Even without visuals, you're drawn into the thick of the action and held there for the two-and-a-half hours it takes to resolve the many confusions. Aage Haugland and Susanne Resmark are fully in tune with their characters, but it's invidious to single out soloists in what is a fine all-around performance, conducted with gusto by Ulf Schirmer. Go ahead, indulge yourself. --Richard Whitehouse

Customer Reviews:

Can I see it live, please?!!.......2005-08-27

What a masterpiece! Every aspect of Nielsen's style is in this opera. You can hear elements of each symphony, the concertos, even his solo music. The story itself, and the history of the opera and its incorporation to Denemark's identity is amazing.

So here you are...Great solos, great ensemble sining, great orchestral interludes, and if you can visualize it, great ballet.
You do not need my recommendation. Buy this recording before it is unavailable. You will be thankful!

Incredible disc.......2003-09-03

Nielsen's MASKARADE is a phenomenal opera and this is a phenomenal performance. The music is absolutely entrancing and, like all of Nielsen's mature music, 100% original and instantaneously recognizable as Carl Nielsen.

Although written in 1905, MASKARADE is noticeably grounded in the spirit of the 18th century, specifically in the music of Mozart and the drama of the Danish playwright Ludvig Holberg. Based on one of Holberg's comic plays, the opera revolves around the central Enlightenment theme of the new vs. the old. Set in Copenhagen in 1723, the action takes place in the home of Jeronimus, the thundering and brilliantly characterized paragon of traditional Denmark. A new theater opens up across the street and the city is divided between the theater's supporters and men like Jeronimus, still stuck in the gloomy, patriarchal world of the 17th century. Every evening a glorious masquerade takes place in the theater, where rich and poor, young and old mingle in entire secrecy. For Jeronimus, the masquerade is "Satan's invention". But for Leander and Henrik, his son and servant, it is a shining flash of light illuminating the "frozen swamp" that is their country. Their escape to the theater and the old scholar's pursuit of them into the masked ball itself is just the framework for a fantastic comedy.

Some of the humor might be lost on you if you don't know Danish. The libretto rhymes in the way CYRANO DE BERGERAC and Moliere's plays rhyme in French -- that is, a lot of the comic drive lies in the deft use of language and how people toss around rhymes among each other. However, there is a Danish text and translation in the notes, so if you know any German you might be able to follow along.

Nielsen's music is an endless wellspring of creativity and invention. As Goethe once said of Mozart (in a mystic mood perhaps), this music has a "tonic" quality that promotes growth through the generations. MASKARADE itself played an important part in Denmark's reinvention of itself at the turn of the last century, when Germany seemed ready to swallow it up militarily and culturally. Plus, the central metaphor of the opera (gloom = death, whereas light and laughter = life) can be read on more than just a "national" level. The opera was part of Nielsen's attack on the 19th-century Beethoven myth, which held that only disjointed, reclusive prophets like Beethoven could wrie valuable music. I think a lot of people in the world of classical music still need to learn this lesson.

Charming Opera.......2003-04-01

Like some other reviewers, I discovered this work by accident. Presumably because the libretto was written in Danish, it is very rarely performed and appears to be almost unknown outside of Denmark. The music is just delightful, written in a spritely neoclassical style. This is an excellent recording with excellent singing and orchestral performances.

First-class recording/performances.......2002-12-11

I ran across a copy of this 2-CD set when I was looking for something else. Being a lover of Nielsen and other Danish composers, I picked it up and thought I'd give it a try. The sound on the recording is quite marvelous. The Danish National Radio Symphony and Choir sound fantastic. It's a inspired performance. The soloists in general sound marvelous and it's just a fun opera all around. Highly recommended.

Spectacular performance of a Danish musical gem!.......2000-01-08

This recording of Maskerade, a Mozartean opera buffo by Nielsen, is simply splendid. Based on a play by Holberg, it has a standard comedic plot twist of mistaken identities. The music is highly approachable and very, very well recorded. The singers are excellent and had me laughing through both disks! This is indeed a 20th century operatic masterpiece (and, I believe, THE Danish national opera). A must for all lovers of opera. If you like Nielsen's "Inextinguishable" Symphony, you are going to love this!

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