The Nielsen Nexus

[SymphonicAddict]

It's funny how tastes differ with each person. 

Nielsen was one of my first loves musically speaking and remains as such, and I prefer him to Sibelius by a slight margin.

I'm not that good suggesting recordings about his symphonies because my preferences are very different from those of other people. However, my go-to is Rozhdestvensky on Chandos. The recordings of the 3rd and 5th Symphonies there are the best I've ever heard.

[kyjo]

Nielsen is one of a handful of composers that I'm really interested in, and somehow drawn to, yet have never clicked with me. Perhaps I haven't heard the right performance, but every time I've listened to a symphony of his, it has completely failed to phase me in the slightest. Someone tell me what's a world class, legendary performance of one of his symphonies that is guaranteed to make an impression on me, and I'll give it a shot. 

I like Sibelius a lot, and perhaps I'm unconsciously comparing Nielsen to the Finnish master. Are they similar in the slightest? I always see it as a "if you like x you will like y" kind of thing with the two.

I love both Sibelius and Nielsen, but it's not uncommon for people to love one but not the other. After all, they are very different composers (though sharing some common features). I can't claim to be an expert on the discography of the Nielsen symphonies, but I can say that I've greatly enjoyed the recordings by the San Francisco Symphony under Blomstedt (Decca) and the NY Phil under Alan Gilbert (Dacapo). There are many other recordings out there which have received praise from members here.

[Madiel]

Nielsen is one of a handful of composers that I'm really interested in, and somehow drawn to, yet have never clicked with me. Perhaps I haven't heard the right performance, but every time I've listened to a symphony of his, it has completely failed to phase me in the slightest. Someone tell me what's a world class, legendary performance of one of his symphonies that is guaranteed to make an impression on me, and I'll give it a shot. 

I like Sibelius a lot, and perhaps I'm unconsciously comparing Nielsen to the Finnish master. Are they similar in the slightest? I always see it as a "if you like x you will like y" kind of thing with the two.

Sadly there are no such guarantees. It partly depends whether you respond to more emotional performances or more structural ones.

As to the Sibelius comparison, the more I delve into both composers the more I think they're quite dissimilar. Yes there are some commonalities, but in some ways that's more about how they're both not conventional Romantic composers. Their methods of moving away from those conventions are individual.

If I had to sum it up (particularly focusing on symphonies), Sibelius is interested in symphonic development and evolution of motifs over time, whereas Nielsen is more likely to forcefully throw his material down and expect you to deal with its arrival.

[71 dB]

...whereas Nielsen is more likely to forcefully throw his material down and expect you to deal with its arrival.

I can deal with Nielsen's material just fine thank you   0:)

To my ears Nielsen's music is funny/anarcist while Sibelius is serious.

[Andy D.]

I can deal with Nielsen's material just fine thank you   0:)

To my ears Nielsen's music is funny/anarcist while Sibelius is serious.

An interesting opinion. I know both composers do pastoral amazingly imo.

[Madiel]

To my ears Nielsen's music is funny/anarcist while Sibelius is serious.

That's probably as good a point of distinction as any.

[SymphonicAddict]

I can deal with Nielsen's material just fine thank you   0:)

To my ears Nielsen's music is funny/anarcist while Sibelius is serious.

I kind of agree with this. Nielsen's music has malice, piquancy and a sense of latent energy, whilst Sibelius's is more restrained and serious as you state.

[Daverz]

It's funny how tastes differ with each person. 

Nielsen was one of my first loves musically speaking and remains as such, and I prefer him to Sibelius by a slight margin.

I'm not that good suggesting recordings about his symphonies because my preferences are very different from those of other people. However, my go-to is Rozhdestvensky on Chandos. The recordings of the 3rd and 5th Symphonies there are the best I've ever heard.

I'd almost forgotten that Rozhdestvensky did a cycle back in the mid 90s.  It does not seem to get mentioned much at all.

There have been complete sets from

Berglund
Bernstein (2, 3, 4, 5) & Ormandy (1 & 6)
Blomstedt (twice)
Bostock
Myung-Whun Chung & Neeme  Järvi (Bis)
Colin Davis
Gilbert
Neeme Järvi (DG)
Paavo Järvi
Kuchar
Leaper
Oramo
Rozhdestvensky
Salonen
Ole Schmidt
Schønwandt
Storgårds
Brydon Thomson
Vänskä

And a historical box on Danacord with recordings by Tuxen, Grondahl and Jensen. 

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Feb03/Nielsen_symphonies_historic.htm

Also I think Thomas Jensen recorded them all.

[Karl Henning]

Sadly there are no such guarantees. It partly depends whether you respond to more emotional performances or more structural ones.

As to the Sibelius comparison, the more I delve into both composers the more I think they're quite dissimilar. Yes there are some commonalities, but in some ways that's more about how they're both not conventional Romantic composers. Their methods of moving away from those conventions are individual.

If I had to sum it up (particularly focusing on symphonies), Sibelius is interested in symphonic development and evolution of motifs over time, whereas Nielsen is more likely to forcefully throw his material down and expect you to deal with its arrival.

Nice!

[Sergeant Rock]

Someone tell me what's a world class, legendary performance of one of his symphonies that is guaranteed to make an impression on me, and I'll give it a shot. 

The Third, the "Sinfonia Espansiva" conducted by Bernstein. If that doesn't convince you of Nielsen's worth, then just give up 


Sarge

[Daverz]

The Third, the "Sinfonia Espansiva" conducted by Bernstein. If that doesn't convince you of Nielsen's worth, then just give up 


Sarge

Bernstein's 4 & 5 are also very impressive.  However, why not start with something very different, the Clarinet Concerto.  (Do not be tempted by the Benny Goodman recording; it is notoriously bad.)

[SymphonicAddict]

 
I'd almost forgotten that Rozhdestvensky did a cycle back in the mid 90s.  It does not seem to get mentioned much at all.

There have been complete sets from

Berglund
Bernstein (2, 3, 4, 5) & Ormandy (1 & 6)
Blomstedt (twice)
Bostock
Myung-Whun Chung & Neeme  Järvi (Bis)
Colin Davis
Gilbert
Neeme Järvi (DG)
Paavo Järvi
Kuchar
Leaper
Oramo
Rozhdestvensky
Salonen
Ole Schmidt
Schønwandt
Storgårds
Brydon Thomson
Vänskä

And a historical box on Danacord with recordings by Tuxen, Grondahl and Jensen. 

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/Feb03/Nielsen_symphonies_historic.htm

Also I think Thomas Jensen recorded them all.

Oh, thanks for it. I didn't know the another Rozhdestvensky set at all either. I wonder how it compares with the one on Chandos.

[Karl Henning]

Bernstein's 4 & 5 are also very impressive.  However, why not start with something very different, the Clarinet Concerto.  (Do not be tempted by the Benny Goodman recording; it is notoriously bad.)

Excellent suggestion! (says the clarinetist)

[Daverz]

Oh, thanks for it. I didn't know the another Rozhdestvensky set at all either. I wonder how it compares with the one on Chandos.

Only one Rozhdestvensky cycle on Chandos AFAIK.  There are 2 Blomstedt cycles, though, one on EMI and the other on Decca.

[Roasted Swan]

Bernstein's 4 & 5 are also very impressive.  However, why not start with something very different, the Clarinet Concerto.  (Do not be tempted by the Benny Goodman recording; it is notoriously bad.)

Worth seeking out this 4 disc version of the Bernstein/Ormandy cycle as it adds the 3 concerti (NOT Goodman) plus some orchestral works - my favourite Helios but not (sadly) Sagadrom

[asin]B000050NWY[/asin]

still available on UK Amazon for  £11.41 plus postage - a good buy

[SymphonicAddict]

Only one Rozhdestvensky cycle on Chandos AFAIK.  There are 2 Blomstedt cycles, though, one on EMI and the other on Decca.

I had understood that there was another Rozhdestvensky cycle. I like his tempos in these symphonies, particularly the endings, they are very majestic. Those Blomstedt cycles are excellent too, albeit the Decca one seems more commented.

[Karl Henning]

The Sinfonia espansiva, live in Atlanta!

[Symphonic Addict]

Good for those who can go! I've heard live Nos. 4 and 5. Revelatory and miraculous.

[vers la flamme]

The Sinfonia espansiva, live in Atlanta!

I'm not much of a Nielsen fan so I didn't go. Tell me how much I missed out on, now 

[Madiel]

Any experience of either of these albums? The Blomstedt has had a number of incarnations.





Both are of some interest for filling gaps in my collection without too much repetition.

EDIT: Also this one, which is not included in the Salonen Nielsen collection with the symphonies.