Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer

Carl Nielsen (Artist), Ulf Schirmer (Artist), Aage Haugland (Artist), Bo Skovhus (Artist), Danish National Royal Synphonic Orchestra and Choir (Artist), Henriette Bonde-Hansen (Artist), Susanne Resmark Marianne Rørholm (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 10, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000JSAI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,894 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Scandinavian Languages

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Maskarade: Ouverture

2. Maskarade: Act 1: Aa ja, aa ja ja

3. Maskarade: Først kommer, fæl og fus

4. Maskarade: Herre, I staar saa stum

5. Maskarade: Er der nogen hjemme?

6. Maskarade: Kan I være rolige ?

7. Maskarade: Det Satans Spind

8. Maskarade: Hr. Leonard, Herrens tilkommende Svoger

9. Maskarade: Her er jeg, Husbond

10. Maskarade: I dette Land hvor solskin er saa kummerligt beskaaret

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Maskarade: Act Two: (cont.) Luk Op! Luk Op!

2. Maskarade: Porten Er Aaben, Borte Er Hoben

3. Maskarade: Se Saa! Se Saa! Nu Er Jeg Ret Bered

4. Maskarade: Act 3. Gaa Af Vejen! Gaa Af Vejen!

5. Maskarade: Giv Lyd, Godtfolk, At Vi Kan H Re Tonen!

6. Maskarade: At Slig Er Ungersvend I Sin Tale

7. Maskarade: Ulignelige Pige

8. Maskarade: Min S De Balsamb Sse

9. Maskarade: Hanedansen - Dance of the Cockerels

10. Maskarade: O Kom, Min Ven

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carl Nielsen. The Great Danish Composer., September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer (Audio CD)

Carl Nielsen - the renown Danish composer - is perhaps best know for his outstanding 6 symphonies, where in particular the 3rd 4th 5th and 6th are some of the best 2000th century symphonies. Carl Nielsen - however - is also the composer of the modern Danish Songbook. He composed two large scale operas. First the grand, bombastic & somewhat sombre "Saul & David", composed in 1902, which no doubt shall find its followers in the 2100th century. But his 2nd Opera Maskarade composed in 1905 quickly became the Danish people's favourite. This is a modern Mozart opera at its best, great tunes, great music, fine singing. The only drawback is perhaps libretto in Danish, but still the 1996 recording preceeded a succesful European tour of many famous opera houses, which established Nielsen not only as s symphonist, but also as an outstanding composer of Opera. Lovers of Mozart, Donnizetti, Rossini will love Nielsen and his Italian/Danish influenced Maskarde. It includes music of strength and beauty and leads the way to many of Nielsen later and more modernistic works. Maskarade is no doubt the best Opera ever to come out of Scandinavia a country know for its cool climate and up front reserved people, but this opera shows their hidden charm and warmth.

Note: For the literary minded the Danish "Moilere" - Ludwig Holberg - was the inspiration for Maskarade. This 2CD sets come with an attractive package including 241 pages liner notes and the libretto translated to German, English and French. Great for people who wishes to learn Danish.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular performance of a Danish musical gem!, January 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer (Audio CD)

This recording of Maskerade, a Mozartean opera buffo by Nielsen, is simply splendid. Based on a play by Holberg, it has a standard comedic plot twist of mistaken identities. The music is highly approachable and very, very well recorded. The singers are excellent and had me laughing through both disks! This is indeed a 20th century operatic masterpiece (and, I believe, THE Danish national opera). A must for all lovers of opera. If you like Nielsen's "Inextinguishable" Symphony, you are going to love this!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for opera or Nielsen lovers, October 3, 1999

By 

Frank Paris (Beaverton, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nielsen - Maskarade / Ulf Schirmer (Audio CD)

If you enjoyed the Chandos recording of Saul and David, you're going to love this Decca recording of Nielsen's Maskarade! If you're an opera lover, or a Nielsen lover, don't pass this up! The performance is wonderful, the music joyful and catchy (I was singing along the first time I heard it it was so catchy!), and the recording magnificent.