Customer Reviews

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 1, Op. 7 / Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice" - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt

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

 

 

It is too bad the other reviewer feels as he does. Nielsen's First Symphony was about as mature a first symphony as ever written-extremely sophisticated. There is nothing heavy handed about the interpretation-rather this is how it should sound. Michael Schonwandt has spent a lifetime immersed in the music of Nielsen. It is in his blood and he can be considered the ultimate authority. Add his experience and ability to an orchestra which feels and understands this music better than any other and you come up with a brilliant performance of a true masterpiece.This will one day be a collecor's item as well as the others in this series on the decapo label. Get them while you can. A definite five star rating.

The Nielsen series conducted by Schonwandt features some passionate, energetic performances, but this particular CD would not be my first choice for these works. The relative simplicity and clarity of the 1st symphony is muddled by rather heavy-handed overinterpreting, and it also lacks the clarity of rhythym and texture that others bring to the work.

The series by Schonwandt seems to include some worthwhile performances, but these are far from the best. The relative simplicity and clarity of Symphony No. 1, for instance, is marred by a heavy-handed and overinterpreted performance, lacking in rhythmic and textural clarity.