Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1-6

Carl Nielsen(1865-1931) in Denmark was considered its most important symphonist of all time, but for a long time outside of Scandinavia the composers music took a long time to make head way. Even though the Dane, Thomas Jensen conducted the Danish State Radio Symphony Orchestra in Nielsen's 5th Symphony. Released by Decca in 1954, it did not start a world wide revolution where Nielsen was concerned. Now it is considered a classic recording. By the way, the composer's daughters thought Jensen sounded very like their father when conducting his work. However, it was not until performances of the symphonies by Bernstein conducting the the New York Philharmonic,( box set recorded 1963-1973), Boston Orchestra under Leinsdorf, and Philadelphia Orchestra under Ormandy and other orchestra's and new recordings released, that Nielsen's star began to rise. Eric Tuxen another great Danish conductor, who recorded the Sibelius Symphony No 5 in 1952, (a Decca classic recording) with the same orchestra as Jensen, stated the following "The problems Nielsen had was his music is very closely associated with the nature of his country as is Sibelius's. The Finnish composer had a very inspiring background for his dramatic tone poems in the landscape of Finland, with its lakes and big mysterious forests. Carl Nielsen's music is born out of the ethereal and calm Danish nature, with its soft colours and lack of dramatic accents. There is no flamboyant instrumentation, but if one is able to catch the special, near ascetic language of its music, a door will open." Vigor, breath and virility became the hallmarks of Nielsen's style, but with them enters a most engaging pastoral quality that springs from the composer's intense love of nature. It is a love of nature, however, with religious and philosophical overtones. For example, Nielsen kept a copy of Plato's Republic by his bedside. He read Goethe, Shakespeare, Greek and Norse Myths. His Pantheism is more primitive than that of Vaughan Williams, more genial than that of Sibelius, less polished then Dvorak, more straight forward than Mahler's. Real tunes fill his symphonies, set off in solid orchestral textures, despite conflicts often between tonalities. Colin Davis conductor of the London Symphony orchestra in these Nielsen 1-6 symphonies, recorded live 2009-2011 at the Barbican, London, who is a Sibelius specialist, was drawn to Nielsen for which he is not renowned for conducting. The reason being, Davis was known as the most philosophical of conductors, who could be summed up by this statement in the Gramophone August 2001, when he said "that the most wonderful thing that we know in the Universe is the Earth we live on. That is how it used to be. The American Indians lived with the seasons and the creatures and everything was meaningful. We're completely lost touch with that, but this amazing process is going on and Nature does not care about us at all." DISCS 1-3 are compatible with all CD players and that includes Stereo and 5.1 surround mixes. Also, this Hybrid SACD high Density Stereo and surround tracks can also be read by SACD players. DISC 4. Pure Audio Bluray are playable in all regions. Compatible with all bluray players. 5.1 DTS HD MA 24 Bit/ 192 KHZ. 2.0 LPCM 24 Bit/192 KHZ 1-6 symphonies all on one disc. DSD Direct streaming digital. Also, downloadable digital files and instructions. The sound on the bluray with five speakers is akin to viewing a painting that has been cleaned of all the dirt. So I can hear the instruments more clearly. However, the 3 discs I play on my two speaker Denon CD system has great SACD sound as well, but the bluray is marvellous and so is Davis. BLURAY INSTRUCTIONS: I have written instructions on how to play this single bluray audio disc in case you are not sure and slightly confused. I never assume you may know. You will think this is the way to go, better then the ordinary CD. Press play on your remote to begin the bluray. You might have to press it a number of times, so do not panic. BD Rom will appear. What you will see on a background with the Moon and country side in the moonlight are the bluray details. You have on your remote, a button and four arrows. Point it at start and press the centre button, then scroll down to track list via bottom arrow and press the centre button yet again. To the left will appear the symphony and track numbers and movements. Music will play. If you wish, scroll down, then press bottom arrow, or up, top arrow. If you like to go to the next symphony not on the page, scroll down to the end and the next symphony will appear. The tracklist in white, is there to show you where you are, so the track number being played becomes light blue. The movement being played on the left, will have a square around it. Audio set up 5.1 DTS -HD MA in blue which will play immediately, should you wish to hear Stereo coloured white, point the remote at it and press the up and down arrows surrounding the button. I also own the Solti Wagner Ring cycle on Audio bluray in book form, because of the libretto and one disc kept in the tough cardboard hard cover. The book is kept in a cardboard box from which you can slide the book in or out. This bluray is transfered from ADD. I know I own the 2012 Solti Wagner box set. This bluray has been out for two months. (read my review) It is not the same as the more expensive box set with all the bells and whistles. My wish is for the Boulez and Dutch Wagner Ring, plus Furtwangler's CDs to be turned into this brilliant Bluray format. SYMPHONIES: The FIRST SYMPHONY: is beautifully paced, balancing drive with poetry. The opening and last movement is dramatic and fiery. The 2nd movement has a simple and catchy melody reminding you of a lonely Nordic landscape. The SECOND SYMPHONY: "The four Temperaments" A ancient Greek notion that human beings can be devided into four types, Choleric, Phlegmatic (lazy or laid back) Melancholic and sanguine (Cheerful). The first movement opens with high energy and gradually a lovely theme comes to the fore and becomes quicker again. The second movement is slowish, The third movement is beautifully played bringing out the Melancholy of this Andante which is different in Nielsen's sound world. For he makes you listen carefully, for there is always a lot going on. Once you get into Nielsens Musical world, you realize just how beautiful and thought provoking his music is. The THIRD SYMPHONY: " Sinfonia Espansiva" as this delightful work opens with a swift theme, Osmo Vanska calls the first movement the Cosmic waltz. The ending is brought to a climax by Davis as only be can. The second movement prepares us for the entry into another enchanted world. Man and his journey into his own innerself, where Davis is in his element. Others see it as the Danish country side at its most ravishing. Actually comparing Bernstein conducting the Royal Danish orchestra to Davis's rendition of the 3rd symphony is a compliment. Bernstein is more emotional and his 2nd movement is otherworldly, but Davis has a different approach to this work which is just as valid. I've lived with the Bernstein Neilsen's CD set for years and like it, however it is always nice to have a another conductor's version which is equally as good. THE FOURTH SYMPHONY: "The inextinguishable" is along with the 5th, two of Nielsen's best known symphonies The 3rd was about Denmark, but when he wrote the No 4 from 1914- 1916, Europe was involved in the first world war, although Denmark was neutral, Nielsens faith in humanity and nationalism was gone, so he made through this music a statement about life itself. Under the title the composers tells us " the composer has tried to indicate in one word what music alone is capable of expressing to the full. The elemental Will of life. Music is life, and like it, inextinguishable". He did say this symphony "is about how life was, is, and always will be in struggle, conflict, procreation and destruction; and everything returns". Although the Scandinavian countries did not directly suffer as the result of the war, they were deeply affected psychologically. The horror of the war is inside the music. For example, Karen Blixen, a Swede, who wrote out of Africa, set in Kenya, had a brother Thomas, who enlisted in the Black Watch regiment of the Canadian Army. He was sent to France and won the V C and the French Croix de Guerre in 1918, for outstanding valor on the battle field. In the 4th Symphony, Violent eruptions of brass, Timpani, and a recurring note motif in the strings constitute Nielsen's depictions of the forces of discord and evil. At the very end a serene movement from the first movement asserts the victory of the life force. Davis has brought animal excitement to the task, such a thrill and sense of discovery and danger. The tempi are very fast, Davis has an impatience with the slower passages. The FIFTH SYMPHONY: written 1920-1922, Nielsen's faith in life's indestructiblity had been profoundly shaken, "it's as though the whole world is in dissolution" he confessed. Simon Rattle describes the 5th as a war symphony, I also add the 4th. I hope the two symphonies are played often to salute the fallen soldiers of the First World War. My Grandfather fought on the Western Front. There is more fire in its belly and Davis is even better in conducting this symphony. If the conductor had more experience conducting Nielsen's symphonies, the whole of the sound stage would have caught fire. The Davis 4th and the 5th, became the Editors Gramophone choice April 2012. SIXTH SYMPHONY: In the first movement Davis has his finger on the psychological as well as the Rhythmic pulse. There is a view that the composer in this symphony near the end, sends up the latest classical musical trends of the time, for Nielsen had a sense of humour. I highly recommend this set. The small box is made out of very tough cardboard. The lid opens sideways. The picture on the sleeves is the same as that on the front of the box set. Behind, the disc number and symphonies with track numbers. The 4th bluray Disc has all the symphonies on one disc. Booklet. The CD is black with Disc number and symphonies. REFERENCES: Ewen,D. The World of 20th century Music. 1968. Prentice-Hall. Johnson, S. Programme Notes.2014. London symphony Orchestra. Bolin, N. Breaking with tradition: the symphonies of Carl Nielson. 1990. Sony records. Thurman, J. Isak Dinesen- The life of Karen Blixen. 1982. Penguin Books.

There's nothing wrong with this in the slightest,but for me,the Blomstedt set has more presence,more revealing detail,doubtless due to the excellence of the Decca engineers,who never seem to fail.This being live misses some of that,or at least,to my ears it does.I'm not listening on SACD equipment,perhaps those that possess it hear more than my (very good ,audiophile) stereo equipment delivers?I'm not displeased with this,just miss that clarity in the final degree,but as a testament to Davis' late discovery of Neilsen,it does full justice.

Much posthumous gratitude to Colin Davis for these natural, idiomatic, clear-eyed performances of a composer who can easily be made to sound crude. Not here. Life-enhancing

Terrific sound especially the Blue Ray disc

Superb recording highly recommended for anyone who wants to discover Nielsen's symphonies.

Good price great music.

All is ok.

this is an outstanding collection of LSO Symphonies and I love the fact that they give them to you in 3 different hi-resolution formats. a set of 3 SACD/DSD discs, a single Blu-Ray Audio disc and digital downloadable file formats of FLAC & DSD. the music is lovely and the LSO does not let you down or fail to impress. it's soothing and thought provoking. I am very happy I purchased this item an I will be purchasing others in the LSO collection offered at Amazon!

good.

Magnifica edizione delle sinfonie di Nielsen. Qualità audio stratosferica. La cosa bella del Blu ray pure audio è che la maggiore qualità rispetto al cd è enorme ed evidente. Non si può dire la stessa cosa del SACD dove le differenze rispetto al cd sono praticamente nulle, e comunque valutabili solo con impianti costosi. E' da anni che si discute in tutto il Mondo se il SACD si sente meglio del CD. Sul Blu ray pure audio penso che saranno tutti d'accordo. La differenza è chiarissima. Anche su impianti di livello medio. L'unico appunto è sulla interpretazione della Sesta sinfonia. Non mi sembra molto riuscita. Blomstedt la dirige di gran lunga meglio. Sembrano quasi due sinfonie diverse. Consiglio questa edizione di Colin Davis anche a chi possiede l'edizione di riferimento Blomstedt/San Francisco

Nielsen und seine Sinfonien hatte ich schon im Schrank. Nur nicht als SACD und in 5.1. Nun betrachtete ich den Preis, unter 20.-€, 3 SACD und eine Blu-ray mit 5.1 und überlegte nur kurz. Die SACD sind allein schon ein toller Klang. Die HiFi-Komponenten spielen dabei sicher auch eine Rolle. Die Lautsprecher einstellung zu 5.1 solte nicht über den Surround-Verstärker erfolgen. Über HDMI wird von der Blu-ray auf DTS-HD MA geschaltet. So der Verstärker es zulässt. In dieser Einstellung klingen die Synfonien "fast" wie im Konzert. Das liegt auch daran, dass die Qualität der Aufnahmen des LSO einfach super ist.

ニールセンはほとんど聞いたことがなかったので、LSO・デイビスのセットを購入 ライブなので各パートの楽器の音は余り明確でないが、音質はハイレゾ録音らしく悪くない。 mShuttle 最大のメリットはPCからDSD64／flac96k・ 24ビットがダウンロードできる点 何時もPC-DAC経由で聞いている。