Carl Nielsen Symphonies

[richardfinegold]

Nielsen's music is still a relatively rare commodity in the Concert Halls here. I remember Henry Fogel, former CEO of the Chicago SO and a neighbor of mine, telling me how difficult it was to get the 5th Symphony programmed here.
I received an early exposure in my teens. The Scandinavian Conductor and Nielsen champion Sixten Ehrling was Conductor - emeritus of my hometown Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony. I heard performances of 3, 4, and 5 as a teenager and college student and I just assumed that Nielsen's music was part of the standard rep.
I really enjoy both of Blomstadt's cycles, with the Danish Radio SO and San Francisco. Bernstein did a great 3, and there are many good 4 and 5s to choose from.
Is Nielsen more frequently played in the U.K. than here? Scandinavian composers have fared better on your side of the pond.

[Dave2002]

Richardfg

There are usually opportunities to hear Nielsen's symphonies in the UK, as also Sibelius. However Nielsen 1 and 2 might be quite hard to find, as also some of his other music - Aladdin for example. Sibelius 1 and 6 are also relatively rarely performed. I don't think I've ever heard either of these composer's first symphonies performed live.

Having said that, even a "popular" composer, such as Tchaikovsky has works which do not often get an outing. Tchaikovsky's symphonies 1-3 are not often performed. I think I've only heard one live performance of any of these - number 3 Polish - my least favourite. I'd really like to hear Winter Daydreams and the Little Russian in concert. I have heard Manfred though.

[amateur51]

Sir Colin Davis conducted a Nielsen symphonic cycle with the LSO at London's Barbican Centre fairly recently and the recordings of the live performances were released on LSO Live!

http://lso.co.uk/nielsen-symphonies-nos-1-6

I'd say that Nielsen's symphonies nos 4 & 5 are well-established in British concert life but the rest have some way to go.

Happy hunting!

[Barbirollians]

The SFSO/Blomstedt recordings really are superb and have stood the test of time as a central recommendation . Love Lenny's 3 & 5 and Barbirolli's 4 too .

[jayne lee wilson]

SFSO/Blomstedt good but needs remastering, just a little hasty in parts... I suspect his earlier Danish RSO one would sound very fresh now, and there are Toshibas available too! But I've never yet heard that cycle. LSO/Schmidt is excellent throughout, revelatory in No.6, pretty good sound on the Regis incarnation. The Brilliant Box with Kuchar/Janacek PO is a brilliant bargain, especially in 1-3, perhaps just lacking a little firepower here and there, but with such a beautiful and dynamic recording it's one of the best. At the price, unmissable. With the Gothenburgers, the Myung Whun-Chung 1-3 and 5 are stunning, almost unsurpassable, top-notch BIS sound, but 4 & 6 with Jarvi are at an audibly lower emotional temperature... I haven't heard the later DG Jarvi cycle but it didn't review very well in the G., or the Penguin Guide.

There are a few curate's eggs of cycles aren't there? Schonwandt, so good in 2&3, less impressive elsewhere...

The recent NYPO/Gilbert disc of 2&3 got a lukewarm review from David Fanning in the Gramophone (12/2012), lacking in both sonic and musical qualities, "rather less than the sum of some admirable parts..."

Saw a terrific 4th here in Liverpool last year with the RLPO and Dausgaard!

[Sir Velo]

SFSO/Blomstedt good but needs remastering

They're digital recordings; why would they need remastering?

[teamsaint]

Richardfg

There are usually opportunities to hear Nielsen's symphonies in the UK, as also Sibelius. However Nielsen 1 and 2 might be quite hard to find, as also some of his other music - Aladdin for example. Sibelius 1 and 6 are also relatively rarely performed. I don't think I've ever heard either of these composer's first symphonies performed live.

Having said that, even a "popular" composer, such as Tchaikovsky has works which do not often get an outing. Tchaikovsky's symphonies 1-3 are not often performed. I think I've only heard one live performance of any of these - number 3 Polish - my least favourite. I'd really like to hear Winter Daydreams and the Little Russian in concert. I have heard Manfred though.

a progamme of Tchaikovsky 1 and Sibelius 1 would surely have them spilling out onto the pavements.....
Sorry, OT.

(Edit, heard an amateur orchestra playing Winter Daydreams just the other week. great stuff.)

[PJPJ]

......LSO/Schmidt is excellent throughout, revelatory in No.6, pretty good sound on the Regis incarnation.

Still the recorded cycle I return to more often than any other. Berglund, RCA, paces very well, too.

[jayne lee wilson]

They're digital recordings; why would they need remastering?

Well, if you have to ask...
They AUDIBLY need remastering, being a little dry and constricted, lacking atmosphere and live-ness, compared to the best. Chung on BIS and Kuchar on Brilliant are both streets ahead of those double deccas for bloom, acoustic presence and atmosphere, and sheer dynamic openness as the levels rise. "There's more "there" there" - and I can't remember who I stole that from.

Just comparing No.6 (i) with Kuchar and SFSO/Blomstedt... the Kuchar has both splendour and delicacy, draws you right into the hall, and is, for me, musically superior too.

[Parry1912]

They AUDIBLY need remastering, being a little dry and constricted, lacking atmosphere and live-ness, compared to the best.

Are you suggesting the addition of some more reverberation?

Or do you have something else in mind?

[jayne lee wilson]

Are you suggesting the addition of some more reverberation?

Or do you have something else in mind?

Remastering ... Look, just Google it, OK?

[BBMmk2]

The SFSO/Blomstedt recordings really are superb and have stood the test of time as a central recommendation . Love Lenny's 3 & 5 and Barbirolli's 4 too .

Yes, barbirollians, comnpletely agree there! Lovely rsound and recording here.

I have Ormandy as well but I think Blomstedt fairs better.

[Thomas Roth]

The SFSO Blomstedt is by far the finest cycle yet and there is no need to remaster it. The sound is perfectly fine and gives a fair picture of the hall. Maybe Gilbert can reach the same heights, or even higher. His first SACD/CD is wonderful and the sound is fantastic. I sometimes laugh out loud when I read the sound ratings in Gramophone or from some other British listeners - what kind of equipment do you own? But then, many of you like Rattle as well, so....

[richardfinegold]

SFSO/Blomstedt good but needs remastering, just a little hasty in parts... I suspect his earlier Danish RSO one would sound very fresh now, and there are Toshibas available too! But I've never yet heard that cycle. LSO/Schmidt is excellent throughout, revelatory in No.6, pretty good sound on the Regis incarnation. The Brilliant Box with Kuchar/Janacek PO is a brilliant bargain, especially in 1-3, perhaps just lacking a little firepower here and there, but with such a beautiful and dynamic recording it's one of the best. At the price, unmissable. With the Gothenburgers, the Myung Whun-Chung 1-3 and 5 are stunning, almost unsurpassable, top-notch BIS sound, but 4 & 6 with Jarvi are at an audibly lower emotional temperature... I haven't heard the later DG Jarvi cycle but it didn't review very well in the G., or the Penguin Guide.

There are a few curate's eggs of cycles aren't there? Schonwandt, so good in 2&3, less impressive elsewhere...

The recent NYPO/Gilbert disc of 2&3 got a lukewarm review from David Fanning in the Gramophone (12/2012), lacking in both sonic and musical qualities, "rather less than the sum of some admirable parts..."

Saw a terrific 4th here in Liverpool last year with the RLPO and Dausgaard!

There is an excellent Blu Ray of Dausgard and the Danish Radio Orchestra in the 3rd. The same Disc has Brahms 1, Sibelius 5, and the New World Symphony.

[richardfinegold]

a progamme of Tchaikovsky 1 and Sibelius 1 would surely have them spilling out onto the pavements.....
Sorry, OT.

(Edit, heard an amateur orchestra playing Winter Daydreams just the other week. great stuff.)

I love both of those pieces. Sibelius 1 turns up frequently on programs here but not the Tchaikovsky .