Nielsen symphonies 3 & 6 BBCPO/Storgards/Bridgewater live 18/06/15

[jayne lee wilson]

Final reminder to all in Nielsen's debt...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e3h38g

Last episode in the much-unattended Nielsen Cycle....

My lady sickens, even unto... well, no, not that bad, but a bit pale for weariness today, will I make it to the end on nothing but a bowl of soup...? Of course I will, this music is The Food of The Gods!
And look what happened to them...

Oh and, got to the end of No.2 in the Chandos 24/96 set. Glitch in 2(i) on the Flacs though, written to TCS about it. Not identical to the concerts, eg. collerico tempi less extreme than the live one last Saturday. Sounds fabulous, fed by our friendly Agricultural Suppliers Richer&Fuller (Audirvanians won't need Integer 2 for this one! Right, Dougie?).
Ed Seckerson seems to have it spot-on in Gramophone 7/15, sort-of-very-positive-with-reservations, "Oramo scores for impetus and energy but Storgards has Chandos for sound" etc. Most critical of No. 3, "just too staid", "lacking the requisite uplift" etc.... so the the more fascinating to see what Storgards does tonight as a finale of finales...

Sorry, rambling on, delirious with hunger...

[**TCS replied same-day to say they'll upload a new 24/96 file shortly. Good! Pity they spoiled it by having "Jayne Lee Wilson" and "Dear Sir" in the same email... The fight goes on!
Just torn their heads off. Ah feel good!]

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Personally, I've never really got on with no. 6. I feel that Nielsen developed steadily from nos. 1 - 5, that he was on something of a decline in his last attempt.

[Bryn]

Personally, I've really got on with no. 6. I feel that Nielsen developed steadily from nos. 1 - 5, that he was on something of a decline in his last attempt.

Never?

[mahlerei]

Hmm, not sure I'd agree Nielsen was in decline with No. 6. There's something very knowing about his last symphony, an angry-bitter-dark distillation of all that's gone before. Oramo brings this out better than most, IMO.

[BBMmk2]

I love all the Nielsen s,phonies. Especially this last three. I think this is where he shines through.

[jayne lee wilson]

Extraordinary performance of No.6... excellent sound on HDs too...

What wonderful music this is, still sounds challengingly new today. And conductors as different as Storgards, Oramo and Gilbert finding new ways to play it and explore it...

[BBMmk2]

I'm just getting round to Storgards cycle on Chandos, JLW. Now you say Gilbert too!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Never?

Er...yes.

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm just getting round to Storgards cycle on Chandos, JLW. Now you say Gilbert too!

That's the trouble - none of them are perfect but they all demand to be heard...... only up to No.2 with Storgards/Chandos yet though...

Anyway, whatever one's interpretative qualms that was a magnificently played account of No.3, a truly grand finale to a great series, musically absorbing and via HDs technically very fine too.
Those massed BBCPO strings were breathtaking tonight, and we got a real showman's ending from the band and their master!

(Does this hall sound better as a broadcast venue when sparsely attended?)

[Stanfordian]

Extraordinary performance of No.6... excellent sound on HDs too...

What wonderful music this is, still sounds challengingly new today. And conductors as different as Storgards, Oramo and Gilbert finding new ways to play it and explore it...

Hiya jayne,

I was fortunate in attending all three of the Nielsen series and I know you have been following the broadcasts. I thought the playing was top-drawer again last night and it was just so wonderful to be there. I'm in the middle of my report now but sadly will not complete it before coverage of Royal Ascot starts on C4.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm in the middle of my report now but sadly will not complete it before coverage of Royal Ascot starts on C4.

[EdgeleyRob]

Horse racing v Nielsen,only one winner.

[Stanfordian]

Horse racing v Nielsen,only one winner.

I waited until the first race today to have a single bet at the Royal Ascot meeting. To my surprise it came in a 4/1.

[jayne lee wilson]

I write this having just been bowled over by the 24/96 download of the BBCPO/Storgards' Nielsen Espansiva. Yes, the very one Ed Seckerson had his doubts about regarding "lift" or impetus. I can see why he feels that - the tempi are very steady and once again, Storgards takes his time to explore the quieter passages; some may feel the loss of momentum is too much. But for me, the sheer heft, rhythmic incisiveness and brassy brilliance of the playing carries the day, especially in the first movement's coda, those echt-Nielsonian climactic tuttis and the closing moments of the finale. The sound is quite exceptional in its fullness, detail, warmth and dynamism - inviting high volumes!
No, not the most volatile or energetic of readings - but I think you could come to love it. The strings are outstanding in the pastorale - warmth and beauty foregrounded over the space and distance of Oramo or Gilbert.

To return to the live Radio 3 HDs relay of No.3, this was simply a triumph. Those massed strings had more bite and attack in that andante, returning with dramatic effect to intensify the sweeping melody after the flute solo - I did suspect a level boost on the relay here, but it was an overwhelming moment! After the paradisical remoteness of the andante's sublime conclusion, the Allegretto really woke us up with a wildly irrepressible outburst of rhythmic energy, certainly more physically exciting than the Chandos recording, and this carried through into a finale which swept all before it with undiminished brilliance and momentum, always the more impressive for emphasising weight and attack over mere speed. It really felt like the end of a profound and joyful symphonic journey, through six of the greatest classical symphonies across ten days.

(I felt the Allegro Espansiva itself was a shade less effective in the live performance though - the steadier, less-explosive-than-usual opening needed greater attack and brilliance than we got on the night, but the movement gained greatly in power and intensity from the mad waltz episode through to the coda - finally winning me over!)

[Barbirollians]

I waited until the first race today to have a single bet at the Royal Ascot meeting. To my surprise it came in a 4/1.

She is a lovely filly Stanfordian and given a very brave and excellent ride