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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 4 - 6
Nielsen: | Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (FS76) 'The Inextinguishable' San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt Little Suite in A minor for strings, Op. 1 (FS6) Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer Hymnus Amoris, Op. 12 (FS21) Barbara Bonney, John Mark Ainsley, Lars Pedersen, Michael W. Hansen, Bo Anker Hansen Copenhagen Boys' Choir / Danish National Radio Choir / Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ulf Schirmer Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 (FS97) San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt Symphony No. 6, (FS116) 'Sinfonia semplice' San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt |
“The Fourth and Fifth are two of Nielsen's most popular and deeply characteristic symphonies.
Blomstedt's are splendid performances. The Fourth occupied Nielsen between 1914 and early 1916 and reveals a level of violence new to his art.
The landscape is harsher; the melodic lines soar in a more anguished and intense fashion (in the case of the remarkable slow movement, 'like the eagle riding on the wind', to use Nielsen's own simile). Blomstedt's opening has splendid fire and he isn't frightened of letting things rip. The finale with its exhilarating dialogue between the two timpanists comes off splendidly.
The Fifth Symphony of 1922 is impressive, too: it starts perfectly and has just the right glacial atmosphere. The climax and the desolate clarinet peroration into which it dissolves are well handled. The recording balance couldn't be improved upon: the woodwind are well recessed (though clarinet keys are audible at times), there's an almost ideal relationship between the various sections of the orchestra and a thoroughly realistic overall perspective.
Blomstedt's account of the Sixth Symphony is a powerful one, with plenty of intensity and an appreciation of its extraordinary vision. It's by far the most challenging of the cycle and inhabits a very different world from early Nielsen.
The intervening years had seen the cataclysmic events of the First World War and Nielsen was suffering increasingly from ill health. Blomstedt and the fine San Fransisco orchestra convey the powerful nervous tension of the first movement and the depth of the third, the Proposta seria.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “an admirable and inexpensive way of collecting Blomstedt's complete cycle of Nielsen's symphonies which is self-recommending. All six performances are among the finest available...To put it briefly, this remains the best all-round modern set of the symphonies, and the bonuses add to its attractions.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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“Adrian Leaper makes good sense of everything.” Gramophone Magazine | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Nielsen - The Symphonies Volume 1
The most important Danish composer of the first part of the twentieth century, Carl Nielsen was prolific in almost all genres. Dissociating himself strongly from Late Romanticism, Nielsen orientated himself increasingly towards the new currents in European music without at any time abandoning his very personal and idiosyncratic style. The Six Symphonies, which become increasingly adventurous as the cycle progresses, are essentially tonal, emotionally direct works, which alternate long lines of melody with passages of blazing energy. The exuberant Symphony No. 1 is here coupled with the enigmatic Symphony No. 6, which has been described as “music of clear sunlight and sudden shadows | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Nielsen - Symphonies 1 & 6
| | | (also available to download from $10.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Nielsen: The Symphonies
Includes previously unreleased recordings of concert overtures Helios and Saga-Dream, and the ‘pastoral scene’ Pan and Syrinx with the Lahti Symphony orchestra. The performance of the Fourth was described as ‘of great character and fire’ in International Record Review, the recording of Symphony No.5 called ‘a first choice, full of intensity’ in BBC Music Magazine, “great music, exciting music-making” The Times, 17th December 2010 | | | (also available to download from $25.50) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Erik Tuxen - Thomas Jensen - Launy Grøndahl Recorded between 1952 and 1959 | | | (also available to download from $16.75) | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Carl Nielsen's Prophet in Sweden - Tor Mann
| | | (also available to download from $16.75) | This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Nielsen - Complete Symphonies and Concertos
| | | (also available to download from $38.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Five Nordic Masters
Nielsen: | Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (FS76) 'The Inextinguishable' Symphony No. 6, (FS116) 'Sinfonia semplice' | Sibelius: | Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 Karelia Suite, Op. 11 Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49 | Stenhammar: | Serenade for Orchestra, Op. 31 Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 23 Cristina Ortiz (piano) Mellanspel ur kantaten Sången (Interlude from the cantata The Song), Op. 44 | Svendsen: | Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 4 Two Swedish Folk Tunes for string orchestra Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 15 | Tubin: | Symphony No. 9 'Sinfonia semplice' Symphony No. 10 Toccata Estonian Dance Suite |
| | | (also available to download from $25.50) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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