Nielsen: Symphones No. 2 & 4 "The Inextinguishable"

Editorial Reviews
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

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.

Nielsen: Symphonies no 1-3 / Blomstedt, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

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Definitive Danish Music
Nielsen - a much neglected composer
These be the symphonies, this be the conductor
Part One Of Blomstedt's Great Nielsen Symphony Cycle
Some of the 20th Century's Finest Symphonism

Nielsen: Symphonies no 1-3 / Blomstedt, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00001X5A0
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1, FS 16: I. Allegro orgoglioso - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 1, FS 16: II. Andante - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 1, FS 16: III. Allegro comodo - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 1, FS 16: IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 2, FS 29 'The Four Temperaments': I. Allegro collerico - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 2, FS 29 'The Four Temperaments': II. Allegro comodo e flemmatico - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 2, FS 29 'The Four Temperaments': III. Andante malinconico - Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 2, FS 29 'The Four Temperaments': IV. Allegro sanguineo - Carl Nielsen

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 'Sinfonia espansiva': I. Allegro espansivo - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 3 'Sinfonia espansiva': II. Andante pastorale - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 3 'Sinfonia espansiva': III. Allegretto un poco - C. Nielsen
Symphony No. 3 'Sinfonia espansiva': IV. Finale: Allegro - C. Nielsen
Maskarade - Overture - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): I. Oriental Festive March - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): II. Aladdin's Dream And Dance Of The Morning Mist - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): III. Hindu Dance - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): IV. Chinese Dance - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): V. The Marketplace In Ispahan - C. Nielsen
VI. Dance Of The Prisoners - C. Nielsen
Aladdin, FS 89 - Suite (1919): VII. Negro Dance - C. Nielsen

Customer Reviews:

Definitive Danish Music.......2006-04-05

The most famous Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, is represented here in the first of two, 2-disk collections of his symphonies and smaller orchestral works conducted by Herbert Blomstedt. Symphonies 1-3, Aladdin Suite, and Maskarade Overture show youthful independence and optimism, Romantic tendencies, and solid compositional skills: interesting melodic and harmonic material.

The Maskarade Overture has a scherzo-like feel, often playful, with a loveable and catchy opening melody, and engaging secondary melody; dramatic and witty, at 4 minutes long, the overture is a charming and fun-loving experience. The 25-minute Aladdin Suite, like the Overture, is based off of a stage work; the story taken from 1001 Arabian Nights. In seven parts, the various sections exploit dance in many forms: Oriental Festival March, Aladdin's Dance and Morning Mist Dance, Hindu Dance, Chinese Dance, Marketplace in Ispahan, Prisoner's Dance, and Negro Dance. The opening is a plodding and menacing march, very Russian sounding, while the Morning Mist Dance is quite the opposite; a fantastical waltz. Of the Hindu and Chinese dance, the former is modal and slinky, while the latter has a moderate bounce to it, but all are overshadowed by the Marketplace following. Ingeniously, Nielsen splits the orchestra in to four ensembles, each overlap each other with contrasting ideas, including a nasal wordless chorus, a chamber drone, all very exotic and unique. The final two parts feature a ragged dance and the finale, a return of the wordless chorus, and a frenetic conclusion. The works are colorful and in some cases experimental, but of a Romantic tradition.

The three symphonies, each just over thirty minutes, show Nielsen's growth as a composer. Symphony No. 1 has an oscillating texture that is carried throughout the work; from the boisterous opening Allegro, to the second movement string chorale, with its murky undertone, to the gently rocking third movement, exhibiting exotic, Russian sounding modes and brass chorales, to troubled, but brash finale, Nielsen's first symphonic outing shows his musical moodiness, but love of varying colors and melodic styles. Symphony No. 2 "Four Temperaments" is based on a painting Nielsen saw at a village inn. Depicting the four human characteristics: Impetuous, indolent or lazy, melancholy, and naïve, each movement describes and combines these states of being. The fiery opening, featuring unexpected syncopations and outbursts, is both heroic and romantic, but the sudden mood changes are expounded through dynamics and texture. The lumbering, flowing second movement has a slight lilt, not to mention occasional humorous orchestrations; while the third movement is set as a funeral ode, tragically serious with throbbing motives. The final movement is like a pioneer dance, with unbridled joy, athletic optimism, and rhythmic vitality, ending the work brilliantly. The Third Symphony, subtitled "Sinfonia Expansiva", uses ideas surrounding the word expansive. The bold orchestra hits open the work, an athletic leaping melody is used in various settings and textures. The second movement calls for soprano and baritone soloists, a calm evocation. A moody scherzo makes up the third movement, and a stuffy procession brings the work to a close. Altogether, the works display ingenious melodies, old forms (such as fugue), Russian orientalism, occasional jazzy inflections, and swiftly changing mood conflicts and shifts.

This compilation performed by Herbert Blomstedt and the San Francisco Symphony is considered the definitive performances of Carl Nielsen's orchestral works. Enthusiastic performances all around, good ensemble work, and a swaggering brass sound make these performances first class. The Decca digital sound from the late 80's to 90's is pretty good, with clear, balanced sounds. The chorus is good, although it is slightly overmiked, and the vocal soloists, although a small role, perform well. At a 2 for1 price, 130 minutes of music, and stellar performances, this is a super bargain. If you like late Romantic sounds, with great melodies and interesting harmonic settings, the CD is a steal. Highly Recommended!

Nielsen - a much neglected composer .......2005-04-17

These be the symphonies, this be the conductor.......2004-03-10

If Nielsen had practiced his craft in Vienna or Munich, his symphonies might be better known. This two-CD set shows he was a master of the big Romantic symphony. His brass choruses make this "Bruckner meets Charles Ives."

Although the "Inextinguishable" (No. 4 on the second set in this series) is the most well-known of the six symphonies, Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia espansiva" deserves a more prominent place in the repertory. In this performance it yelps and leaps with delight all the way to a dramatic conclusion.

Herbert Blomstedt led the San Francisco Symphony for a happy decade before turning over the reins to Michael Tilson Thomas. This is a world-class orchestra and Herb channels his inner Nielsen in this set. It's hard to believe that a better Nielsen cycle exists--or will ever exist.

Part One Of Blomstedt's Great Nielsen Symphony Cycle.......2002-04-17

This excellent Decca/London two CD set includes Blomstedt's splendid interpretations of Nielsen's first three symphonies and the Aladdin Suite. Those who say that Michael Tilson Thomas is responsible for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's stature as an internationally renowned ensemble should hear Blomstedt's recordings with the San Francisco Symphony; his Nielsen symphony cycle is widely acclaimed as among his best. Blomstedt emphasizes the Romantic qualities inherent in these early Nielsen scores, leading the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in brisk, vibrant performances. The sound quality is absolutely first rate for these early digital recordings; I doubt they could be enhanced further with the latest digital image-bit remastering.

Some of the 20th Century's Finest Symphonism.......2001-08-13

Great sound, great performances, great music. (Long version follows.)

For years, all I knew of Nielsen's work was the brilliant clarinet concerto. I can't give a good answer to the question, "Why haven't you sought ought his other music sooner?" Especially now that I have heard all six symphonies, and the other concerti.

This two-disc set I have found resiliently re-visit-able, from the impressively-assured first symphony, to the effulgent Sinfonia espansiva. And particularly the colorful "Aladdin" Suite, which features the Western orchestra producing marvelous Mid-Eastern effects.

Nielsen: Symphonies 3 & 5
Average customer rating:

Sony, Please reissue

Still unmatched in most respects ...

The best Expansive ever recorded!

Magnificent Performances

Nielsen; The 20th Century Greatest Symphonist.

Nielsen: Symphonies 3 & 5

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000027N6
Release Date: 1993-06-22

Tracks:

Sym No.3, Op.27: I. Allegro Espansivo - Royal Danish Orch/Leonard Bernstein
Sym No.3, Op.27: II. Andante Pastorale - Ruth Guldbaek/Niels Moller
Sym No.3, Op.27: III. Allegretto Un Poco - Royal Danish Orch/Leonard Bernstein
Sym No.3, Op.27: IV. Finale. Allegro - Royal Danish Orch/Leonard Bernstein
Sym No.5, Op.50: I. Tempo Giusto-Adagio Non Troppo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein
Sym No.5, Op.50: II. Allegro-Andante Un Poco Tranquillo - New York Phil/Leonard Bernstein

Customer Reviews:

Sony, Please reissue.......2007-02-28

When the Symphony No. 3 here first came out on LP, I purchased it and fell in love with this great work. Were it not for the two vocalists required in the slow movement, I believe this symphony would be played far more often than it is. But it just those wonderful vocal moments that really stand out when this work is played in public. It lasts maybe three minutes but it is pure magic. The Bernstein performance, recorded in Denmark, is magnificent, a performance for the ages. For that reason alone, Sony should reissue it and allow it to stay in the catalog. The 5th Symphony is not as beautiful as the 3rd, but it is extremely exciting and since it has no vocal requirements, it is played much more often. I suspect Sony will reissue this CD in SACD. I would wait for that version.

Still unmatched in most respects ..........2006-05-05

My review seconds everything said about the 3rd Symphony reading, and I would add that the 5th Symphony reading seems not to have been quite matched by anyone else. Along with the overall polish and power of the first movement, the tempi of the final movement are generally faster and more difficult to sustain than others have ever attempted on record, especially in the Presto fugue that introduces those astounding clarinet and wind figurations. This leads eventually and with equal intensity to a towering finale that Bernstein ends on a huge sustained brass chord, which truly stands apart from all other performances I have heard. In two words, I would call this recording of the 5th far and away the "most uncompromising" of any I have heard.

For those who have not found it in their search, this entire recording seems still to be available on Sony Catalog No. 44708 (ASIN B00000DSAX) and can be found on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000DSAX/qid=1146761626/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-4972447-7733563?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174.
I had to use "Nielsen, Symphony, 5, Bernstein" to make it come up on my search page.

The best Expansive ever recorded!.......2005-10-04

In Leonard Bernstein 's musical career there have been glorious and unforgettable achievements: and if I was required by the eight major ones: I should name, in this order. a) Mahler' s Second with the London Symphony; b) Schumann 's Second ; c) Aaron Copland 's Rodeo; d) Edward Elgar' s Pomp and circumstance with the members of the BBC; e) Britten 's Peter Grimes ; f) Haydn ' s Symphony No. 97; g) Charles Ives question without answer; and finally this Nielsen 's Third. Nobody does it better. When Bernstein was inspired and decided to face the work going to the essential roots, he got magnificent results as this one, for instance.
So don' t think it over and try to get as soon as you can this towering recording, without a little shadow of doubt: this is a resonant artistic feat.

Magnificent Performances.......2005-06-20

I consider Nielsen to be one of the greatest 20th Century symphonists. Both the 3rd and 5th are remarkably atmospheric, complex, approachable masterpieces that reward repeated listening. If you don't know these works, please do yourself the favor of purchasing this disk. There are other performances that are easier to find in stores, and they're less expensive, too--most notably the Decca Double 2-CD set re-releases of Herbert Blomstedt's performances with the San Francisco Symphony. However, Berstein's performances here are truly incandescent, far outstripping the Blomstedt set in passion, emotional fervor, imaginative sweep, and atmospheric evocation. I've listened to every performance of Nielsen's symphonies I've been able to get my hands on--the 3rd, Symphonia Espansiva, is my personal favorite--but no other performances can match these. The slower-than-usual tempo in the finale of the 3rd is truly extraordinary--the music breathes and surges with a febrile excitement, with a breathtaking exhilaration. Ahh, Bernstein...what an inspiring genius of the podium. This would be worth owning at triple or quadruple the price asked here. Please do yourself a favor and purchase this disk. (It's really criminal that Sony hasn't re-released these performances in the US as part of the Bernstein Century series, because they are among his finest recorded performances.) Enjoy!

Nielsen; The 20th Century Greatest Symphonist........2000-01-12

I experienced live Bernstein conducting Nielsen's symphonies in Denmark, when I was young. The 1st movement of Nielsen's masterpiece the 5th symphony is still etched in my mind as one of the most powerful pieces of music ever composed. Where have you every heard a clarinet and a snaredrum togehter making beatiful and at the same time frightening music. Bernstein masters this complex composition and its feelings perfectly and the recording is a great honor to these two masters, Nielsen and Bernstein.

I cannot find any 20th century composition or even any classic symphony, which comes close to Nielsens mastery in the 5th, except perhaps Nielsen's own 4th and 6th symphonies.

When you at the same time get the lesser played but very moving "Sinfonia Expansiva" Opus 27/ Nielsen's 3rd symphony thrown in for free, you are in for a rare treat. While the 5th only had two more or less interlinked movements, the 3rd is a classical four movement symphony. But up to Nielsen's usual treatment of harmonic bluffness, an almost unremittingly dissonnat progress, in places even with polytonal features, in the 3rd symphony no particular key is not maintained for long. In fact the music expands continiously in melodic and rhythmic elements. The classic insistance on tonal unity wihtin each single movement as well as the work as a whole had been disregarded by Nielsen as early as his 2nd symphony. A special coloring is obtained in this symphony by the combination of melody with 2 human voices, that sing seemingly improvised coloraturas on the vowel "a". If you buy this, you will also have to buy his 4th and 6th symphonies, and the Clarinet Concerto (try the one played by jazzman Benny Goodman). The 5th symphony use of clarinet and snaredrum later inspired this tumultuous concerto.

Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4
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The Last of the Royal Editions

Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nielsen: Symphonies 3 & 5

Symphony No. 14 The Royal Edition, No. 79 Of 100: Dmitri Shostakovich

Mahler: Symphony No. 3; Rücket Lieder; Kindertotenlieder

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.

Average customer rating:

From Robert Layton's Review in Gramophone

Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Nielsen: Symphonies 4 & 5
Nielsen : Symphonies 2 & 3 / San Francisco Symphony / Herbert Blomstedt
Orff: Carmina Burana
Symphony No. 9 / Overture in C
True Blue

ASIN: B00000E440
Release Date: 1990-01-05

Tracks:

Sym No. 1: I. Allegro orgoglioso
Sym No. 1: II. Andante
Sym No. 1: III. Allegro comodo
Sym No. 1: IV. Finale
Sym No. 6: I. Tempo giusto
Sym No. 6: II. Humoreske: Allegretto
Sym No. 6: III. Proposta seria: Adagio
Sym No. 6: IV. Temo con variazioni: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

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

I liked Blomstedt's account of the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (Decca CD), and as some readers will recall, he recorded for EMI not only the six symphonies but Nielsen's complete orchestral works (including the three concertos) with Danish Radio forces in the mid-1970s for EMI. The intervening years have found him developing in stature and his Bruckner Fourth and Seventh Symphonies with the Staatskapelle Dresden on Denon show a very real depth and mastery.

Let's start with the First Symphony, for which Nielsen always nurtured a special affection-and rightly so, for its language is natural and unaffected, it has spontaneity of feeling and a Dvorakian warmth and freshness. To my mind this newcomer is the best account of the work to have appeared for some years: indeed, I'm tempted to say, since the 1967 Previn/LSO account on RCA. It is vital, beautifully shaped and generally faithful to both the spirit and the letter of the score. Tempo markings are observed, though Blomstedt is considerably slower than Nielsen's crotchet=120 in the Andante sostenuto section of the scherzo, which is a pity as it relates to the minim=120 of the finale which he does observe. Otherwise he is completeiy on target and even observes a piu vivo marking in the finale (eight bars after fig. E; track 4, 1'37'') which in Jensen's pioneering Decca version is barely perceptible.

Blomstedt achieves a finely blended wind sound and cultured string playing and although the music is not borne on so highly charged a current as with Jensen's, I would prefer to hear this version before any of those listed above. The recording is good, though the Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco has more clarity than warmth. All the same, the sound has plenty of room to expand. There is also a very good relationship between the various sections of the orchestra and a realistic back-to-front perspective.

Blomstedt gives a powerful account of the Sixth Symphony too, with plenty of intensity and an appreciation of its extraordinary vision. It is by far the most problematic and challenging of the cycle. He opts for a much faster tempo than did Jensen in his 1952 Danacord/Conifer recording--I quote Jensen simply because he is said to have had a particularly good feeling for Nielsen's tempo markings, having played under the composer, and his much broader opening proves stronger in atmosphere. There is (as I see it) an undercurrent of foreboding that escapes Blomstedt in these opening pages, as indeed it did in his mid-1970s version. Mind you, there is much more that he succeeds in penetrating the powerful nervous tension later on in the movement, and the depth in the 'Proposta seria'.

Ole Schmidt and the LSO on Unicorn-Kanchana comes as part of a three-CD set of all six symphonies, and is neither as well played nor as well recorded as this Decca newcomer. Yet Schmidt still has something special to say and opens up the world of this strange and visionary symphony with all its disturbing overtones. Yet had I never heard the Jensen or Schmidt performances, I would have few reservations about this newcomer. Blomstedt brings one into closer contact with the music than he did in his Danish performances and conveys much of its power and, in the finale, humour.

Both these new performances are recommended, though you should not miss hearing the Schmidt. Unicorn-Kanchana should reissue it separately, coupled, as it is in the complete set, with his fine account of the Fifth.

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

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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.

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

Average customer rating:

This one is a sleeper!

Gustav Mahler: Symphonies 8 & 10

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000AVB
Release Date: 1994-11-29

Tracks:

Sym No.10: Adagio
Sym No.8, Part 1. Hymnus: Veni, Creator Spiritus: Veni, Creator Spiritus
Sym No.8, Part 1. Hymnus: Veni, Creator Spiritus: Infirma nostri corporis

Tracks:

Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2
Symphony no.8: Part 2

Amazon.com

Finnish conductor Leif Segerstam recorded a very impressive Mahler cycle for Chandos, nowhere more so than this extremely impressive, and above all well-recorded performance of the mammoth Eighth Symphony. The title is a misnomer, not only in terms of the number of people required to do the work justice, but also because Mahler as often as not treats huge forces like a series of chamber ensembles. If you expect nothing but huge sound effects, you're apt to be disappointed. So it's important that the conductor prove himself adept both at traffic management during the loud bits, and at sustaining interest in the many quiet, lyrical passages. Segerstam clears both hurdles, finding the right balance between introspection and opulence. Very satisfying. -- David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

This one is a sleeper!.......2000-06-01

After getting to know this symphony from the well-known recordings of Solti (overwhelming in its intensity), Tennstedt (maybe all-around the best version out there), Sinopoli (great, highly rated, but there is a sour organ note near the end that ruins the impact for me!), Gielen (true bargain, fine rendition), Davis (earth shattering finale) - I was truly surprised with how much I enjoyed this relatively unheralded recording. Also with a big, overwhelming, powerful finale, I recommend this highly.

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.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Village of Love [Import]

Daniel Pinkham: Piano Music

Chelsea Girl (Limited Edition) (Remaster

Tuskegee Experiments

14 Shades of Grey [Clean] [Enhanced]

Contact [Import]

Centennial Anthology of His Decca Record

BBC Sessions [Import]

Believe in Angels Believe in Me [Import]

Battle Hymns: Songs of the Civil War

Cab V.2 [Import]

Clasico

Alberto Y Juan

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra On Broadway

Irony Is a Dead Scene