Nielsen Symphony Showdown: the 3rd ("Sinfonia Espansiva") vs. the 5th

[Mirror Image]

I think you're conflating your personal reaction with that of the average concertgoer, from whom you are VERY different  . For the "average Joe Mozart" coming to Nielsen for the first time, both symphonies are probably pretty eyebrow-raising (my parents do not care for Nielsen) but, for reasons which amw eloquently explains above, ...well... put it this way, I'd love to drag my parents to a "Sinfonia Espansiva" concert and see if they become convert Nielsen-heads, but there's no way in hell they'd ever be able to tolerate No. 5.

There are slightly more recordings of No. 5 available on ArkivMusic, but the margin is narrow (36 vs. 31 and they are missing some).

P.S. [3412] have only heard 5 and 6 once or twice and don't feel comfortable ranking them yet.

The average concertgoer certainly didn't factor into my opinion, because, well....they never do. I couldn't even begin to point out an average concertgoer because, in terms of classical music, I wouldn't know what one likes/dislikes or even what is considered more popular (I have purposely cut myself off from the mainstream to pursue my own musical path). I think, as with anything, exposure is everything. Before I had even heard a note of Nielsen, I had already heard some 'difficult' music and enjoyed it immensely, so this is, in hindsight, why the 5th appealed to me instantly and why I took to it so quickly.

P.S. You really should listen to the 5th and 6th again. Bernstein's 5th will blow you away. For the 6th, I like Blomstedt/SFSO and Oramo/Royal Stockholm PO. They seem to understand this symphony's character better than anyone.

[prémont]

First heard the Espansiva in 1967 (Lenny). It's been one of my Top 5 symphonies ever since.

Sarge

The same with me, except that the year was 1969.

[madaboutmahler]

The one with the Kick Ass Waltz

Yep, Espansiva for me too. Love it all the way through, but especially for the first movement.

5th is a close second though. I'll never forget the impact the climax of the first movement had on me, with the snare drum etc, first time I heard in Lenny's recording....

[Johnnie Burgess]

I would have picked Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97 over Symphony # 3, Op. 27 "Sinfonia espansiva" but it is close between the 2.

[Karl Henning]

I haven't voted.

I cannot choose.

Therefore:

[Androcles]

5th, but 3rd is good too. My favourite is the 4th. The very strange 6th is up there with them, if different.

[Heck148]

Really tough choice - I love both #3 and #5.

#4 is my favorite, tho - Martinon/ChicagoSO still the benchmark...what a classic!!

[Monsieur Croche]

The first half of Nielsen's 5th is worth the sum total of all his symphonies that preceded it.