Skip Navigation Links
C. Nielsen-Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 1 & 6

Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 1 & 6 [SACD]
~ C. Nielsen

$11.70

List Price: $17.97
You Save: $6.27 (35%)
Inventory: Instock, Ships in 24 Hours
ยป Email A Friend

Product Reviews

Following his 2011 release of Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable," and the Symphony No. 5, Colin Davis presents another pair from the cycle in live performances, the Symphony No. 1 and the Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia Semplice." These may seem like mismatched pieces, because the First reflects the young composer's leaning toward the solidity of Brahmsian classicism, while the Sixth is pulled toward the uncertainty and experimentation of modernism, with the mature Nielsen sounding here and there like a Danish Bart k or Shostakovich. Yet in both are discernable characteristics of his voice, most noticeably in the shapes of his folk-like melodies and in his assertive rhythms and robust counterpoint. Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra give vigorous and unsentimental readings that sound terrific in the SACD format, and the ensemble's incisive attacks give the music a strong profile. Add to this the crystalline lines of the strings and woodwinds, and the vibrant sonorities of the brass playing in top form, and these recordings must be judged among the best sounding Nielsen offerings in the catalog. The Sixth especially makes this package desirable, because Davis and the LSO find the right mix of sardonic humor and bitter disillusionment that Nielsen put into this late work, and they pull no punches in its nastier moments. That's not to say that this is an unpleasant experience, but it certainly is bracing and challenging to listeners who hear it for the first time. ~ Blair Sanderson, Rovi

Product Notes

The second release in Sir Colin Davis' acclaimed Nielsen cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra features the first and sixth symphonies.

Classical Data

68:07
Symphony
Romantic
Colin Davis
England
Colin Davis became one of the world's best-known conductors during the last four decades of the 20th century. He is particularly well known for his recordings of Berlioz and Sibelius. While playing the clarinet as a student at the Royal College of Music in London, he participated in a performance of Berlioz's oratorio L'enfance du Christ. He was deeply affected by the work and decided then to become a conductor. A great obstacle in achieving his goal was his lack of skill at the piano. For that reason, he was barred from conducting classes at the Royal College of Music and had to learn conducting on his own. He still admits that he plays piano "very badly, not worth talking about." He was called to military service and was posted to the Band of the Household Cavalry. At that point he formed, with some fellow Royal College instrumentalists, an ensemble called the Kalmar Orchestra, which he often conducted. It soon evolved into the Chelsea Opera Group, a semi-professional organization. Davis became recognized for his professional and stylish performances of Mozart operas. In 1952 he became head of ballet music at Royal Festival Hall. He was an assistant conductor of the BBC Scottish Orchestra (1957-1959). In 1958 he debuted at Covent Garden in Die Entf hrung aus dem Serail. In 1959, when Otto Klemperer became ill, he took over a performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Royal Festival Hall, a performance that won him wide acclaim. In 1960 lightning struck twice when Thomas Beecham, scheduled to conduct Mozart's Zauberfl te at Glyndebourne, fell ill and Davis again made a brilliant substitution. In 1961 he was appointed musical director of the Sadler's Wells Opera. He resigned from Sadler's Wells in 1964 to do more symphonic conducting, especially with the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1965 he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. During this period he began to record widely, including a classic series of releases of the music of Hector Berlioz, including the first recording of the complete Les Troyens. From 1967 to 1971 he was principal conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with the autonomy to pursue an adventurous policy of repertory. He conducted the Royal Opera Company on several occasions, again mainly in newer music, and emerged as a principal champion of Michael Tippett's operas. He was chosen to succeed Georg Solti as musical director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1971. While continuing to be praised for his Mozart and for unusual repertory, he received some criticism for his more standard selections, including a Wagner Ring cycle of 1974-1976. Even so, he was asked to appear at Bayreuth, where his Tannh user in 1977 was the first appearance of a British conductor in the Wagnerian shrine. Over the years, he has become more at home in the core operatic and orchestral repertory. In 1980 he received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. In 1984 he accepted a position as chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich. He took it on a tour of North America in 1986. In the same year, he resigned his position with the Royal Opera to have more time for guest conducting. He remained with the Munich Orchestra into 1994 and was principal guest conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 1995 he was appointed principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. Davis won a Best Opera Grammy Award in 2006 for his LSO Live disc of Verdi's Falstaff and continued conducting the LSO. ~ Joseph Stevenson, Rovi
Following his 2011 release of Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable," and the Symphony No. 5, Colin Davis presents another pair from the cycle in live performances, the Symphony No. 1 and the Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia Semplice." These may seem like mismatched pieces, because the First reflects the young composer's leaning toward the solidity of Brahmsian classicism, while the Sixth is pulled toward the uncertainty and experimentation of modernism, with the mature Nielsen sounding here and there like a Danish Bart k or Shostakovich. Yet in both are discernable characteristics of his voice, most noticeably in the shapes of his folk-like melodies and in his assertive rhythms and robust counterpoint. Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra give vigorous and unsentimental readings that sound terrific in the SACD format, and the ensemble's incisive attacks give the music a strong profile. Add to this the crystalline lines of the strings and woodwinds, and the vibrant sonorities of the brass playing in top form, and these recordings must be judged among the best sounding Nielsen offerings in the catalog. The Sixth especially makes this package desirable, because Davis and the LSO find the right mix of sardonic humor and bitter disillusionment that Nielsen put into this late work, and they pull no punches in its nastier moments. That's not to say that this is an unpleasant experience, but it certainly is bracing and challenging to listeners who hear it for the first time. ~ Blair Sanderson, Rovi

Details

C. Nielsen
Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos 1 & 6
Classical & Opera
Classical Composers
14 February 2012
Sacd Davis/London Symphony Orchestr Sacd ~ Discs:1 ~ Country:Usa
USA
Lso Live (Eng) ( LSOL )
SACD
715
822231171522

Similar To: C. Nielsen

Carl Nielsen: The Masterworks, Vol. 2 - Chamber And Instrumental Music     Carl Nielsen: The Masterworks, Vol. 2 - Chamber And Instrumental Music C. Nielsen ~ $19.82
Nielsen: Symphony No. 2 The Four Temperaments' Symphony No. 4 The Inextinguishable     Nielsen: Symphony No. 2 The Four Temperaments' Symphony No. 4 The Inextinguishable C. Nielsen ~ $6.38
Con Vn/Con Cl/Con Fl     Con Vn/Con Cl/Con Fl C. Nielsen ~ $7.60
Nielsen: Saul & David     Nielsen: Saul & David C. Nielsen ~ $8.09
Nielsen: Complete Symphonies     Nielsen: Complete Symphonies C. Nielsen ~ $15.31
Nielsen: Aladdin Suite; Pan And Syrinx; Saga Deam; Maskarade Overture; Helios Overture     Nielsen: Aladdin Suite; Pan And Syrinx; Saga Deam; Maskarade Overture; Helios Overture C. Nielsen ~ $6.99
Carl Nielsen: Complete Piano Music     Carl Nielsen: Complete Piano Music C. Nielsen ~ $24.79
Nielsen: String Quartets, Vol. 1     Nielsen: String Quartets, Vol. 1 C. Nielsen ~ $11.22
Nielsen: Symphonies/Concertos     Nielsen: Symphonies/Concertos C. Nielsen ~ $37.49
Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 4 The Inextinguishable & 5     Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 4 The Inextinguishable & 5 C. Nielsen ~ $19.03

 

Notify Me If Price Drops

Email:
   
Price To Drop Below:
Current Price: $11.70
Notify Price:  
Notes: (For your own use, included in our email to you. Text only, no html)
 
Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide®  ©2012 Macrovision Corporation.
All Music Guide® is a registered Trademark of Macrovision Corporation.
AMG