BaL 6.06.15 - Nielsen: Symphony no. 3

[Beef Oven!]

The SFSO inhibited your Nielsen experience?? San Francisco is not a city that is known for inspiring any inhibitions....
As per Barbs, I am a little mystified at the level of disapproval directed towards the Blomstedt/SFSO cycle. Perhaps it has been superceded by newer versions--I haven't sampled the ones mentioned--but by any standard it is a fine cycle. I've already stated why I think it was better than than Blomstedt's Danish cycle, and I have great affection for the latter since those lps were my introduction to the Composer.
I think it's great that there are so many Nielsen cycles to discuss and debate, which was not the case when either Blomstedt cycle appeared. And I think it is a finething that we are as conversant with Nielsen's Symphonies as we are with those of Beethoven, Brahms or Mahler.
btw, I find the farmer ploughing the fields analogy pretty ludicrous...

San Francisco is indeed a wonderful city, I was first there for a few weeks in 1974! However, HB and the SFSO are having a similar affect on me in the Sibelius cycle I bought recently (early days yet). Like the Nielsen, after initial connection, things get a bit sterile and bland (in my head/ears!!).

[visualnickmos]

San Francisco is indeed a wonderful city, I was first there for a few weeks in 1974! However, HB and the SFSO are having a similar affect on me in the Sibelius cycle I bought recently (early days yet). Like the Nielsen, after initial connection, things get a bit sterile and bland (in my head/ears!!).

Have to say that I kind of agree with you. I wonder if it's one of those occasions that the light will suddenly come on after more listenings.....?
Damn well hope so - after all, these things cost money!

[Beef Oven!]

Have to say that I kind of agree with you. I wonder if it's one of those occasions that the light will suddenly come on after more listenings.....?
Damn well hope so - after all, these things cost money!

Indeed!!

[BBMmk2]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xqdsc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05y5ykq

and the 3rd and 6th on Tuesday 16th June.

All the symphonies, with the forces featured in the Radio 3 associated recordings issued on Chandos, were broadcast during Afternoon on 3 in the last week of February this year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05302mq

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05303ml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05303mn

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05303ms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05303mv

Thanks Bryn! That will keep me occupied!

[Nick Armstrong]

Finally caught up with this BaL: enjoyed it.

Strange one this - the first movement of No 3 is one of my favourite orchestral pieces - I know it from the Blomstedt/San Francisco CD... but never got on with the rest of the symphony. In fact a lot of the extracts from the latter movements seemed new to me, whereas I know the first movement like the back of my hand. I think the main problem is that the second movement came across to me as really dull, and I have an aversion to wordless singing, esp. if the singers are ill-chosen.

So perhaps it's a problem with the Blomstedt version, interestingly discussed above. It makes the first movement sound an exhilarating orchestral tour-de-force - but as with another contributor up-thread, I can see what the reviewer meant about that perhaps missing the point.

I found the reviewer's approach illuminating and unpretentious. The conclusion sounded absolutely terrific in the winning performance: in which connection - hats off to Tevot and Parry!

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Myung-Whun Chung

http://www.discogs.com/Carl-Nielsen-...elease/3302965

One of the best CDs in the catalogue, imho.

Faced with that, I'm going to have to get it, aren't I ?!

Mind you - what are the singers like? The reviewer didn't mention specifically, and towards the end suggested that no recorded performance has ideal vocalists... Don't say there's some warbly matron in the Chung performance? In the words of our dearly departed gamba: "Wobbly women spoil my music" !!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Mind you - what are the singers like? The reviewer didn't mention specifically, and towards the end suggested that no recorded performance has ideal vocalists... Don't say there's some warbly matron in the Chung performance? In the words of our dearly departed gamba: "Wobbly women spoil my music" !!!

You can hear the whole work here, Cali:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xq5lz

(go to the 11th index box [about 1hr 30mins into the programme] to get to the start of the work - the Second Movement starts at about 1hr 40mins 35secs.)

[jayne lee wilson]

Anyone wanting just the Chung Espansiva can download the present lossless file here -

http://www.eclassical.com/labels/bis/nielsen-the-six-symphonies.html

...a snip at $5.56....

I recall that some of the CD issues were reportedly transferred at an uncomfortably high level, but I haven't checked this against the download yet...

[Tony Halstead]

You can hear the whole work here, Cali:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05xq5lz

(go to the 11th index box [about 1hr 30mins into the programme] to get to the start of the work - the Second Movement starts at about 1hr 40mins 35secs.)

I'm pretty sure that AM said that the 2 singers in the Bryden Thomson recording were as good as one is ever likely to hear. In the short extract played, Catherine Bott sounded fabulous, with no 'wobbles' at all!

[pastoralguy]

Caliban"Strange one this - the first movement of No 3 is one of my favourite orchestral pieces - I know it from the Blomstedt/San Francisco CD... but never got on with the rest of the symphony. In fact a lot of the extracts from the latter movements seemed new to me, whereas I know the first movement like the back of my hand".

My thoughts exactly, Caliban. I have the same feeling for the violin concerto whose first movement is wonderful. Then it all goes downhill...

Walton's first symphony has the same effect. I love the first and second movements but switch off before the last two. I just find them a complete anticlimax...

[Flosshilde]

I'm pretty sure that AM said that the 2 singers in the Bryden Thomson recording were as good as one is ever likely to hear. In the short extract played, Catherine Bott sounded fabulous, with no 'wobbles' at all!

She's certainly no 'warbly matron'

[Nick Armstrong]

I have the same feeling for the violin concerto whose first movement is wonderful. Then it all goes downhill...

Walton's first symphony has the same effect. I love the first and second movements but switch off before the last two. I just find them a complete anticlimax...

I would agree about the Nielsen VC (what a lovely movement that is!), but not about the Walton ... not AT ALL about the Walton!

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm pretty sure that AM said that the 2 singers in the Bryden Thomson recording were as good as one is ever likely to hear. In the short extract played, Catherine Bott sounded fabulous, with no 'wobbles' at all!

Agreed. Hence my slight doubt about Chung's soloists... I shall try and find time to listen before I buy, thanks for the roadmap ferney

[Beef Oven!]

I would agree about the Nielsen VC (what a lovely movement that is!), but not about the Walton ... not AT ALL about the Walton!

I do get that a bit with the Walton, a tiny bit. Not much at all, really. Hardly worth mentioning.

I get that quite a bit with RVW 5. In the finale, really.

The 2nd movement of Nielsen 3 is the equal, in a different way, to the amazing 1st movement. What a melody. It takes all sorts to make a world, I suppose.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Agreed. Hence my slight doubt about Chung's soloists... I shall try and find time to listen before I buy, thanks for the roadmap ferney

- "acceptable" rather than "wonderful", I thought. (Could have been a lot worse!)

[Nick Armstrong]

I get that quite a bit with RVW 5. In the finale, really.