Jensen Conducts Nielsen

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op 7/FS 16
Composed by Carl Nielsen
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Thomas Jensen

2. Helios, concert overture, Op 17/FS 32
Composed by Carl Nielsen
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Thomas Jensen

3. Symphony No. 5, Op 50/FS 97
Composed by Carl Nielsen
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Erik Tuxen

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding landmark treasure!.......2004-09-06

This issue is hard to find but try to find it . The Helio 's overture is played with sucp power , majesty and conviction that it is unbeatable and results almost impossible to get a substitute .
The Royal Dannsih plays too the first and fifth symphony. The first conducted for Jenssen is very idiomatic and convincing .
Erik Tuken conducts the Fifth and the rapport is unique . Obviouly , there are worthable performances in the market such as the cult recording of Jasha Horenstein , the Bernstein recording and more recently Pekka Salonen but the epic spirit (this invisible musician behind the score) involves all these works with that fervent and dyonisiac mood of the Dannis Orchestra playing the most remarkable musician of Dennmark .
Fundamental issue if you are a hard fan of Carl Nielsen .

Un-Matched By Anything Since.......2004-07-18

Amazon's designation of this CD's contents is inaccurate. Both the 1st & 5th Symphonies are conducted by Thomas Jensen - the "Helios Overture" is performed by Erik Tuxen. I have all of these in their original LP formats and, without exception, these excellent CD transfers are virtually identical to the fine mono sound of the LP originals. The 1st was recorded in 1952, and its only rival in my estimation is the "live" 1957 Tuxen account on Danacord 351-353 (an indispensable 3-disc set of all 6 symphonies in historic Danish performances). I love them both, but I would give the edge to Jensen.

Jensen's magnificent Nielsen 5th (from 1954) is quite simply the finest performance in my experience - not even Tuxen's two recordings (a 1950 studio effort on Dutton 1207 and a "live" 1955 concert reading in the aforementioned Danacord set) are quite at the same exalted level. Nielsen's beautiful tone painting "Helios Overture" is given its definitive performance here under Tuxen.

Of the many later stereo recordings I have heard of these works, none of them have the sheer vitality and eloquence of these vintage Danish performances. What magnificent music!

Highest recommendation.

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