BaL - 4.03.12 - Nielsen's Symphony no. 4

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9:30 David Fanning with a personal recommendation from recordings of Nielsen's Symphony no. 4

Available versions:
Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli (live version – there was also an earlier studio recording)
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel
Göteborgs Symfoniker, Neeme Järvi
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Tor Mann
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen
London Symphony Orchestra, Ole Schmidt
Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Michael Schønwandt
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
The Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Erik Tuxen
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks for this meticulous (as ever) work, Alpie.
The Tuxen was the "chosen one" when the work was last surveyed twelve years ago, it will be interesting to hear how the newer recordings fare: I'm particularly keen to hear the Davis.

But no Karajan? Too "refined" for some ears to be a first choice, perhaps, it was the recording that first opened my ears to this astonishing work and composer. (AND it beats the Salonen to a pulp!)

[Barbirollians]

SFSO/Blomstedt for me . A marvellous cycle of performances .

[cloughie]

Is the CSO Martinon not available, and as previously mention Karajan or SNO Gibson?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Tuxen was the "chosen one" when the work was last surveyed twelve years ago

Thank you, Ferney. Now I know who the actual conductor really was, I've corrected the list.

[Caliban]

SFSO/Blomstedt for me . A marvellous cycle of performances .

[amateur51]

I frist heard this wonderful symphony on Radio 3 (I think) in a 'live' performance conducted by Antal Dorati. I recorded it on to a compact cassette and played it over and over again and hence that is my benchmark performance.

I have not heard a recorded performance that comes close to it which is why I shall be listening to this BAL with great interest. I heard the concert perfomances by LSO/Colin Davis when they were broadcast and found the opening just too fast. It will be fascinating to see which version is the expert's favourite this time

[aeolium]

The Kuchar/Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra recordings (on Brilliant Classics) of the symphonies have received good reviews, though I have not managed to hear any of them. Are they no longer available? I have the Blomstedt recording with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and that sounds very good to me.

[Caliban]

a compact cassette

Ah ye olde compacte cassette! How modern we thought we were! Où sont les cassettes d'antan?!

[amateur51]

Ah ye olde compacte cassette! How modern we thought we were! Où sont les cassettes d'antan?!

If you listen carefully, you can hear then disintegrating in those carrier bags under the stairs

I have a complete Beethoven Piano sonata cycle rercorded 'live' off-air from R3, a London (QEH)cycle that Brendel did in the mid-80s - I just daren't look