BaL - 4.03.12 - Nielsen's Symphony no. 4

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 24-02-12, 10:04

Thanks for this meticulous (as ever) work, Alpie.
The Tuxen was the "chosen one" when the work was last surveyed twelve years ago, it will be interesting to hear how the newer recordings fare: I'm particularly keen to hear the Davis.

But no Karajan? Too "refined" for some ears to be a first choice, perhaps, it was the recording that first opened my ears to this astonishing work and composer. (AND it beats the Salonen to a pulp!)

**Barbirollians** · 24-02-12, 11:11

SFSO/Blomstedt for me . A marvellous cycle of performances .

**cloughie** · 24-02-12, 11:53

Is the CSO Martinon not available, and as previously mention Karajan or SNO Gibson?

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 24-02-12, 12:37

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

The Tuxen was the "chosen one" when the work was last surveyed twelve years ago

Thank you, Ferney. Now I know who the actual conductor really was, I've corrected the list.

**Nick Armstrong** · 24-02-12, 13:33

Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post

SFSO/Blomstedt for me . A marvellous cycle of performances .

**amateur51** · 24-02-12, 13:41

I frist heard this wonderful symphony on Radio 3 (I think) in a 'live' performance conducted by Antal Dorati. I recorded it on to a compact cassette and played it over and over again and hence that is my benchmark performance.

I have not heard a recorded performance that comes close to it which is why I shall be listening to this BAL with great interest. I heard the concert perfomances by LSO/Colin Davis when they were broadcast and found the opening just too fast. It will be fascinating to see which version is the expert's favourite this time

**aeolium** · 24-02-12, 13:45

The Kuchar/Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra recordings (on Brilliant Classics) of the symphonies have received good reviews, though I have not managed to hear any of them. Are they no longer available? I have the Blomstedt recording with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and that sounds very good to me.

**Nick Armstrong** · 24-02-12, 15:00

Originally posted by amateur51 View Post

a compact cassette

Ah ye olde compacte cassette! How modern we thought we were! Où sont les cassettes d'antan?!

**amateur51** · 24-02-12, 15:45

Originally posted by Caliban View Post

Ah ye olde compacte cassette! How modern we thought we were! Où sont les cassettes d'antan?!

If you listen carefully, you can hear then disintegrating in those carrier bags under the stairs

I have a complete Beethoven Piano sonata cycle rercorded 'live' off-air from R3, a London (QEH)cycle that Brendel did in the mid-80s - I just daren't look

**HighlandDougie** · 24-02-12, 16:48

One of my absolute favourite pieces of music - heart-burstingly thrilling if performed well. I started a post a few months ago on posters recommended versions as I felt that I needed a more modern recording than Launy Grøndahl, whom I regard as hors concours in this symphony. I don't know quite what it is about his recording that makes it so special - his choice of tempi? the timbre of the orchestra? the balance of instruments? Whatever it is, my somewhat obsessive listening to (and collection of) no fewer than 14 of the recordings listed above, plus Gibson, Karajan, Thomas Jensen, Igor Markevich etc, failed to reveal a recording which has the same effect. I'm not sure how easy it is to get hold of the Dutton re-issue rather than an MP3 download but if ever a recording deserved the accolade, "Great Recording of the Century", it is surely it.

Otherwise, I'll be interested in David Fanning's views. Incidentally, has Thomas Dausgaard recorded the symphonies? I had convinced myself that the Da Capo slipcase with 3 CDs of the symphonies which I have mysteriously lost contained recordings by him but I now think that it was probably the recordings by Michael Schønwandt and I got my Danish conductors a bit mixed up. The recent Da Capo box contains two different Schønwandt cycles - the original as issued by Da Capo then Naxos and which is on CD - and another live cycle, recorded in 2000, which is on DVD. It also contains Dausgaard's standout SACD of Nielsen orchestral works (about which David Fanning raved with a good deal of justification in The Gramophone). My vote would probably go to Davis, which is almost as thrilling as Grøndahl - and my candidates for the black spot would certainly include Salonen and Martinon, who conducts it slickly but with little feeling for the music.

Oops, apologies for going all train-spotter

**Chris Newman** · 24-02-12, 17:35

I remember the thrill of my first Inextinguishable with the French NRSO and Jean Martinon in a concert at the RFH which included Berlioz operatic torsos incredibly sung by Régine Crespin. I became a Nielsen addict. I have both Blomstedt cycles, with the symphony by Barbirolli, Tuxen, Gibson, Rhozdezvensky, Davis. Waldhorn persuaded me to try the Chandos Gibson and I have to say it really is up there with the Tuxen. It is still available s/h on Amazon and as an MP3 download.

**Norfolk Born** · 24-02-12, 17:50

Another vote here for Blomstedt/San Francisco Symphony (not just for the 4th, but for the whole cycle).

**BBMmk2** · 24-02-12, 17:53

I wil have to catch up with this BaL next week sometime. i will be away on a brass abnd weekend!! Lots of

!!

I have the SFS/Blomstedt to and for the whole cycleI give top marks!!

**HighlandDougie** · 24-02-12, 18:18

Great Blomstedt/SFSO 5th (to which I am listening as I type) but not quite so great 4th, in my unhumble opinion (probably that's just because it's not Grøndahl). But as a cycle, better played and better recorded (OK - maybe not than Vanska) than probably any other. I await the Alan Gilbert/NYPO cycle on Da Capo SACD keenly.

BaL - 4.03.12 - Nielsen's Symphony no. 4

BaL - 4.03.12 - Nielsen's Symphony no. 4

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