Carl Nielsen Symphonies

[robk]

Seconded

Thirded

[Nick Armstrong]

the NYPO and Alan Gilbert

Those (like me) who have not yet had a chance to sample them, have their chance on Saturday (12th Jan) when the performances will be played as AMcG's "Disc of the Week"

11.45am Disc of the Week
Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 2 and 3
New York Philharmonic
Alan Gilbert.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, the LSO/Davis 3rd was most enjoyable on those webcasts, the 2nd even better. Too many Nielsen performances are indeed overdriven, even parts of the sacrosanct SFSO/Blomstedt cycle.

Oh dear.

I had a lot of travelling to do today, and had the trusty iPod with me, including all the podcast versions of the morning 'specialist chart list' (yes naff I know, but now there's no Rieu, there are some pleasant new releases dotted around)... I was taking pot luck, and played one from a while back, spinning the wheel to avoid chatter and things I'd heard before.

I happened upon some Nielsen... the last movement of the 3rd... But I didn't hear who was playing.

It sounded slack to my ears, and a dreadful dead, boxy recording. Undistinguished and rather bored-sounding playing - totally lacking in 'spark'. It put me in mind of the playing in one of the less good concerts I've been to of late, the Sydney SO under Ashkenazy at the Proms. I noticed Ashkenazy was mentioned in the podcast description and thought that must be it.

Turned out it was the LSO Live - Colin Davis recording...

On that blind tasting at least, I'm going to leave well alone...

[Barbirollians]

Well reviewed in IRR this month Caliban !

[Nick Armstrong]

Well reviewed in IRR this month Caliban !

[Nick Armstrong]

I've just noticed that the Davis recording is going to pop up on CD Review tomorrow...

10.20am

NIELSEN: Symphony No. 2 Op. 16 'The Four temperaments'; Symphony No. 3 Op. 27 'Sinfonia espansiva'
Lucy Hall (soprano), Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis (conductor)
LSO LIVE LSO0722

Really put my head in the noose now, haven't I

[Madame Suggia]

Hung, drawn, and four temperamented Caliban

[Sir Velo]

I've just noticed that the Davis recording is going to pop up on CD Review tomorrow...

10.20am

NIELSEN: Symphony No. 2 Op. 16 'The Four temperaments'; Symphony No. 3 Op. 27 'Sinfonia espansiva'
Lucy Hall (soprano), Marcus Farnsworth (baritone), London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis (conductor)
LSO LIVE LSO0722

Really put my head in the noose now, haven't I

Direct comparisons can be made with the Gilbert then?

[Barbirollians]

AMcG preferred Davis in 2 and Gilbert in 3 .

[Flosshilde]

Which is all very well but unless you get them as downloads you would have to buy two CDs & end up with a Davis 3 (& probably a Gilbert 2) that you don't want/need

[Sir Velo]

Alternatively, you can "make do" with your Blomstedt/San Fran job; which is what I will be doing.

[Nick Armstrong]

Alternatively, you can "make do" with your Blomstedt/San Fran job; which is what I will be doing.

Same here

[Flosshilde]

I was looking on Amazon to see how much the Davis & Gilbert recordings were, & came across this recording by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Schønwandt ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carl-Nielsen...4&sr=1-3-fkmr0 ) which has one very enthusiastic review.


(I do have the Blomstedt recording of 4-6)

[Barbirollians]

Same here

Me too - plus Lenny in 3 and 5 and JB in 4

[Sir Velo]

(I do have the Blomstedt recording of 4-6)

So what's stopping you getting 1-3?