Customer Reviews

Carl Nielsen: Complete Symphonies (Box Set)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here we have one of the finest Nielsen symphony cycles that ever have appeared on record: Michael Schönwandt is conducting Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. So what we hear is a Danish orchestra conducted by a Danish conductor familiar with Nielsen's music. The orchestral playing is not in the same stylish class as, say, San Francisco SO for Blomstedt, but the Danes play this music with an unmatched passion and integrity. Moreover, the recording quality is outstanding, with all frequencies in natural balance, and the departments of the orchestra are spaciously positioned.

The set is very even, musically and sonically, but I appreciate the takes of the second and sixth symphonies most of all.

Prospective buyers should however consider Ole Schmidt's bargain set on Regis as the first choice, which boasts fine recordings of legendary interpretations.

When I first listened to this set, I was not enthusiastic. But after several re-hearings, I now appreciate how good these thoughtful and detailed performances are. Tempos are on the slow side, which suits the careful shaping that makes these symphonies sound different. I would still pick the well-played Bloomstedt/San Francisco performances as a first choice, but if you love these symphonies and want a new take on them, this is it.

This is a consistently good set of readings, yet I cannot feel that any of the individual performances are equal to the best by other conductors. The 5th is somewhat slow in tempo and lacking forward movement and tension, and a burble by a horn player at a critical moment in the second movement should have been edited out. Having said that, the conductor does well with the later movements, sustaining forward movement and drama as well as anyone. Likewise, his 1st is good, and is an accessible introduction to the work, but simply not the best; the same can be said of his 4th, in which the tempos are well chosen but the performance isn't managed with the same degree of fire and drama that others find in it. So all in all, a cycle with consistently good performances, but Blomstedt, and especially Rozhdestvensky, would really be first choices for a complete set. (Along with the BIS set that mixes performances by Chung and Jarvi.)