Symphony 2

Works For Solo Violin, Violin

Complete String Quartets

Symphoni 5, Symphonic Rhapsody

The Danish Song Treasury, Vol.

The Danish Song Treasury

Danish Organ Music

The Danish Song Treasury, Vol.

The Danish Song Treasury, Vol.

Ibert, Nielsen, Jolivet: Concertos For Flute And Orchestra

Young Nielsen

Summer Music

This is the first complete collection of Carl Nielsen’s masterly chamber works available on CD. Music in which the Danish national composer, with his spontaneous and imaginative works, presents himself as a renewer of the classical tradition. Here all the string quartets, violin sonatas and wind works appear in new, definitive recordings by top young Danish musicians. The piano works are played in unique fashion by Herman D. Koppel, who as a young man was priviliged to play them all to the composer himself.

This is an important release, containing magnificent performances of some major works.

–ClassicsToday.com


"The chamber music of the Danish composer Carl Nielsen, composed in the late 19th and early 20th century, has been enjoying a renaissance recently. The superb Danish String Quartet offers passionate, elegantly rendered interpretations of its compatriot’s lyrical, characterful quartets. The six-disc set also features the genial Piano Trio in G, as well as works for wind; piano and violin sonatas; and pieces for solo violin and solo piano." – Vivien Schweitzer, The New York Times

This DVD presents a spectacular new production of Carl Nielsen's dramatic debut opera, Saul & David from 1901 - a production marking the Royal Danish Opera’s celebration of the composer's 150th anniversary in 2015.

King Saul, bitterly jealous of young David, who won the favour of the people by defeating the giant Goliath, is staged in a highly original fashion by acclaimed English director and Nielsen enthusiast David Pountney, who updates the Biblical story to our own time, lending it psychological and political undertones.

The performance is conducted by Nielsen expert Michael Schønwandt and presents an array of Denmark's leading singers with Johan Reuter in the demanding role of King Saul, Niels-Jørgen Riis as David and Ann Petersen as his beloved Mikal.

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REVIEW:

A riveting performance by Johan Reuter in both voice and acted intensity. Pountney's direction and the conducting of Michael Schonwandt help make much of characters who might easily remain sinecures. Orchestra and conductor unroll their home composer's score with richness and dexterity. Hugely recommended.

– Gramophone

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.

Reviews for some of the recordings that make up this set:

Symphonies 2 & 3

The New York Philharmonic is a powerhouse orchestra, Nielsen is a powerhouse symphonist, and Alan Gilbert revels in the music’s energy and dynamism. ... Gilbert’s interpretations take no prisoners, and frankly that is just what Nielsen needs. The Allegro collerico opening of “The Four Temperaments” is really ferocious, the finale almost giddy. And yet, Gilbert’s tempos in the Andante pastorale of the “Espansiva”, or the Andante malincolico of the “Temperaments”, are also perfectly judged, sensitive, and expressive. The former, especially, reveals a combination of tranquility and flow unique in the work’s discography. The string playing is particularly beautiful here, and the Philharmonic’s woodwinds, solo oboe especially, do themselves proud in music that often relies on their artistry and character. Gilbert also very convincingly paces the tricky finale of the same work, with its hymn-like main theme that still has to sound “allegro”. ... Gilbert reveals a genuine affinity for the music, and Nielsen’s athleticism suits the orchestra very well indeed. If this series keeps up as it has begun, it’s going to be stupendous.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Symphonies 5 & 6

If you like your Nielsen big, bold, and gutsy, then this is the cycle you need to own.

This doesn’t mean that Gilbert and his players are in any way crude. The opening of the Fifth Symphony emerges with gossamer delicacy, and the solo wind playing is as sensitive as one could wish. But the hostile snare drum entrance carries real menace, while the movement’s adagio second half, beautifully spun out by the strings, features the best percussion cadenza since Horenstein, leading to an absolutely apocalyptic climax. Similarly, Gilbert brings thrilling energy to the start of the second movement. The ensuing quick fugue isn’t as swift as some, but the orchestra’s weight of tone, its attention to detail, makes the music unusually vicious, while the race to the closing bars has seldom sounded more exhilarating.

The Sixth Symphony can come off as sort of a bitter, denatured coda to the previous five. Again, without minimizing the work’s ethereal moments and often stark instrumental textures, Gilbert and the orchestra put the meat back on the music’s bony skeleton. … This is fantastic.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Symphonies 1 & 4
These are strong, exciting performances of symphonies that demand the sort of bold muscularity in their execution that these artists offer. In Alan Gilbert’s hands the First Symphony sounds extremely confident and wholly mature. … The performance of the “Inextinguishable” Fourth Symphony also features some really impressive energy and power. In the first movement the brass play with a precision and clarity that few other versions can match, and in the finale the dueling timpani compete with real bravura. … This is a very impressive release.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com