The Nielsen Nexus

[Mirror Image]

Of course I want to discuss. At the moment I don't have much to say, but When I get the Blomstedt set... 

Oh, revisited the choral works disc after so many years and it was very nice. I don't know why I listen to Nielsen so little/rarely... 

Of course, I can't discuss Blomstedt's Sinfonia espansiva with you as I don't like it, but I can discuss the performances of Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2. The Four Temperaments, in particular, gets a splendid reading from him. Hopefully, you can find the other set soon as it contains the best performances of his cycle IMHO and you also get the Aladdin Suite, an excerpt from Maskarade, Little Suite for Strings, and Hymnus amoris (this particular performance I enjoy more than Segerstam's).

[PerfectWagnerite]

The best I can remember this is a good article on Nielsen's Inextinguishable:

https://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/mar/04/symphony-guide-nielsen-fourth-tom-service

It's ok, nothing really revelatory, you can certainly get most of that info in a good liner note from any number of recordings.

Also the recommended recordings are a joke. I would take them more seriously if 3 of the 5 doesn't involve some form of British orchestra/conductor. Karajan and Blomstedt are pretty good though.

[Mirror Image]

It's ok, nothing really revelatory, you can certainly get most of that info in a good liner note from any number of recordings.

Also the recommended recordings are a joke. I would take them more seriously if 3 of the 5 doesn't involve some form of British orchestra/conductor. Karajan and Blomstedt are pretty good though.

Yes, their British bias as always is eyebrow raising. I didn't bother looking at their recommended recordings, because, in most cases, I usually don't agree.

[North Star]

It's ok, nothing really revelatory, you can certainly get most of that info in a good liner note from any number of recordings.

Also the recommended recordings are a joke. I would take them more seriously if 3 of the 5 doesn't involve some form of British orchestra/conductor. Karajan and Blomstedt are pretty good though.

Granted, there are some other recordings with no British conductor or orchestra involved (Gilbert & NYPO, Oramo (although he is the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony) & Stockholm, Kuchar & Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra, Schonwandt, Dudamel & Gothenburg, Neeme Järvi & Gothenburg, Berglund & Royal Danish, Rozhdestvensky & Stockholm, Salonen (principal of the Philharmonia) & Swedish RSO) - which of the 9 7 are better than the Schmidt, Vänskä & Davis recordings? It would have to be a fair few before you'd be justified in saying that the recommendations are a joke. Not that I don't agree that British classical music media often has a bias for British musicians.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Granted, there are some other recordings with no British conductor or orchestra involved (Gilbert & NYPO, Oramo (although he is the chief conductor of the BBC Symphony) & Stockholm, Kuchar & Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra, Schonwandt, Dudamel & Gothenburg, Neeme Järvi & Gothenburg, Berglund & Royal Danish, Rozhdestvensky & Stockholm, Salonen (principal of the Philharmonia) & Swedish RSO) - which of the 9 7 are better than the Schmidt, Vänskä & Davis recordings? It would have to be a fair few before you'd be justified in saying that the recommendations are a joke. Not that I don't agree that British classical music media often has a bias for British musicians.

You are forgetting Lenny/NYPO and Martinon/CSO, 2 classics that go to the top of the heap in any list. To not even acknowledge either one of those borders on the criminal. If Schmidt makes top 5 where do those 2 rank?

[North Star]

You are forgetting Lenny/NYPO and Martinon/CSO, 2 classics that go to the top of the heap in any list. To not even acknowledge either one of those borders on the criminal. If Schmidt makes top 5 where do those 2 rank?

And their availability, particularly outside box sets, in 2014?

[PerfectWagnerite]

And their availability, particularly outside box sets, in 2014?

Don't know, but I have these versions:


(it says it is from 2006)

and this:
[asin]B0000027N5[/asin]
probably OOP as of 2014 but you don't have to look hard to find a cheap copy somewhere. Point is to not even acknowledge these and pretend that they don't exist is just wrong.

Look the Schmidt isn't a bad recording, I just don't think it is a top recommendation. For ANOTHER British band/conductor combo Alexander Gibson and the SNO is better, but wait those are Scottish so that would be a no no.

[Mirror Image]

PerfectWagnerite, I'm not sure why you're getting so bent out of shape about an online magazine's recommendation choices? I mean if you're so distraught about it, why don't you email The Guardian and tell them how you feel and spare us of the ranting?

[PerfectWagnerite]

I mean if you're so distraught about it, why don't you email The Guardian

Because it takes too much effort.

spare us of the ranting?

Ok.
But only because I like you guys enough so that I do not wish to argue with you.

[Madiel]

I studied neuroscience at university, and 71dB doesn't know a damn thing about neural networks.

Also, returned to the 6th symphony last night, and I'd forgotten just HOW weird it is. In the first movement I hear Shostakovich's 15th (which I know is chronologically backwards), but after that it goes into completely its own territory. I like it, but I wouldn't claim to understand it.

As much as anything it's the textures. They often don't sound orchestral, more like a somewhat disorganised military band has wandered in from somewhere.

[Karl Henning]

As much as anything it's the textures. They often don't sound orchestral, more like a somewhat disorganised military band has wandered in from somewhere.

In a way, it's a cousin to Agon (which is likewise chronologically reversed): a piece for orchestra, which is in its greater part a succession of specific chamber-music textures.


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Madiel]

In a way, it's a cousin to Agon (which is likewise chronologically reversed): a piece for orchestra, which is in its greater part a succession of specific chamber-music textures.


Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Okay, now I'm going to have pull out my copy of Agon, which I know I liked but I'm not really that familiar with yet (haven't yet returned to it since my initial listens after purchase).

[Mirror Image]

I studied neuroscience at university, and 71dB doesn't know a damn thing about neural networks.

Also, returned to the 6th symphony last night, and I'd forgotten just HOW weird it is. In the first movement I hear Shostakovich's 15th (which I know is chronologically backwards), but after that it goes into completely its own territory. I like it, but I wouldn't claim to understand it.

As much as anything it's the textures. They often don't sound orchestral, more like a somewhat disorganised military band has wandered in from somewhere.

Interesting take on the 6th, orfeo. As for Karl's post, now I just might have to program Nielsen's 6th with Stravinsky's Agon tonight.

[Mirror Image]

Because it takes too much effort.

Ok.
But only because I like you guys enough so that I do not wish to argue with you.

How about this, Wagnerite, why don't you compile a list of recommendations for each of Nielsen's symphonies?

[Mirror Image]

I'll start:

Symphony No. 1 - Oramo/Royal Stockholm PO, Gilbert/New York Phil.
Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" - Blomstedt/SFSO, Chung/Gothenburg SO
Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" - Bernstein/Royal Danish Orch., Oramo/Royal Stockholm PO
Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" - Blomstedt/SFSO, Gilbert/New York Phil.
Symphony No. 5 - Bernstein/New York Phil.
Symphony No. 6 - Oramo/Royal Stockholm PO

[TheGSMoeller]

1st - don't have a favorite 
2nd - Gilbert/NYP
3rd - Chung/Gothenburg
4th - Blomstedt/SFS
5th - Rozhdestvensky/Royal Stockholm
6th - Davis/LSO

I think Nielson has a great showing in the recorded symphonies. All the groups I listed above excel in their respective cycles.

[Mirror Image]

1st - don't have a favorite 
2nd - Gilbert/NYP
3rd - Chung/Gothenburg
4th - Blomstedt/SFS
5th - Rozhdestvensky/Royal Stockholm
6th - Davis/LSO

I think Nielsen has a great showing in the recorded symphonies. All the groups I listed above excel in their respective cycles.

I recall Gilbert's Four Temperaments being excellent. In fact, he's even spoke about it rather briefly:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Oj8C2Bc8Ez8

[71 dB]

I studied neuroscience at university, and 71dB doesn't know a damn thing about neural networks.

I'm done with this hostility. I am not an expert on neural networks (how many of us are?) but they were mentioned briefly in my university studies. In fact neural networks (self-organizing maps) where developped by Teuvo Kohonen in the same university.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teuvo_Kohonen

I think I'll keep away from GMG because I don't like being here at the moment. This is not a friendly place. Sorry.

[Turner]

I'm done with this hostility. I am not an expert on neural networks (how many of us are?) but they were mentioned briefly in my university studies. In fact neural networks (self-organizing maps) where developped by Teuvo Kohonen in the same university.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teuvo_Kohonen

I think I'll keep away from GMG because I don't like being here at the moment. This is not a friendly place. Sorry.

It was a discussion that somehow got a bit out of hand, I am sorry to hear this & enjoy that you are contributing here, hope you´ll stay anyway.

[Turner]

1: (no definite favourite)
2: Gould, Chung- a fine, contrasting pair
3: Bernstein, Chung - ditto
4: (no definite favourite). Mena is very good, but not on CD or LP. Maybe Blomstedt / decca. Martinon interesting, but a bit too quick at times. Not Karajan.
5: Bernstein rules ...
6: (no definite favourite)