[.ca] Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Rather Earthbound Performances:
Both of these performances sound like they could have used a few more rehearsals. Various imprecisions in the playing, coupled with slack conducting, make this pairing of Nielsen's 4th and 5th symphonies simply non-competitive. My suggestion here: try to hear these symphonies in the complete set on Regis CDs conducted by Ole Schmidt. Both better played and better recorded, those readings convey far more of the drama and tension in these works. The 3-disc Regis CD set was recently available at Berkshire Record Outlet for a mere $12 - making it also a better buy than this Naxos issue. For what, to my ears, are the most brilliant-ever readings of these symphonies, you will want to audition a pair of Dutton CDs: #4 with Launy Grondahl is on Dutton 4001 (coupled with Thomas Jensen's superb #2), while Dutton 2502 contains my favorite performances of #1 and #5, both with the Danish State Radio under Jensen. These Duttons are in honest mono sound - and the performances make just about everything recorded since sound tame and uninvolved. Happy listening!

Nielsen's two masterworks and succesful interpretations:
Nielsen's immortal Symphony No. 4 was written during The First World War years (1916). And Symphony No. 5 was written after the war. Because of, these symphonies tells crisis about the war. Also, about Symphony 4, according to Nielsen, "Music is life" and music, like life, "Inextinguishable". And, I think, this recording is very succesful. Especially, in Symphony 4, solos of the two set timpani (these solos are difficult for timpanists) are very good. The woodwinds (in the 2nd movement) are very soft and nice. The quality of sound is excellent. I think, this CD can buy whitout hesitate. Highly recommended for all Nielsen fans.

• Allegro - Adrian Leaper
• Poco Allegretto - Adrian Leaper
• Poco Adagio Quasi Andante - Adrian Leaper
• Con Anima - Allegro - Adrian Leaper
• Tempo Guisto - Adrian Leaper
• Adagio Non Troppo - Adrian Leaper
• Allegro - Presto - Adrian Leaper
• Andante Un Poco Tranquillo - Allegro - Adrian Leaper
• Symphony No.2 Op.16 - 'The Four Temperaments': Allegro collerico - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.2 Op.16 - 'The Four Temperaments': Allegro comodo e flemmatico - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.2 Op.16 - 'The Four Temperaments': Andante malincolico - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.2 Op.16 - 'The Four Temperaments': Allegro sanguinoso - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.3 Op.27 - 'Sinfonia espansiva': Allegro espansiva - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.3 Op.27 - 'Sinfonia espansiva': Andante pastorale - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.3 Op.27 - 'Sinfonia espansiva': Allegretto un poco - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.3 Op.27 - 'Sinfonia espansiva': Finale: Allegro - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.1 In G Minor, Op.7: Allegro orgoglioso - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.1 In G Minor, Op.7: Andante - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.1 In G Minor, Op.7: Allegro comodo - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.1 In G Minor, Op.7: Finale: Allegro con fuoco - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.6 - 'Sinfonia semplice': Tempo guisto - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.6 - 'Sinfonia semplice': Humoreske: Allegretto - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.6 - 'Sinfonia semplice': Proposta Seria: Adagio - C. Nielsen
• Symphony No.6 - 'Sinfonia semplice': Theme With Variations: Allegro - C. Nielsen