Welcome to ‘Dodd’s Discoveries’, a review series from NativeDSD Senior Music Reviewer Bill Dodd. This series focuses on Bill’s latest selections, with new reviews regularly. And the best part… the albums featured in the most current review will be available at a reduced price! Click the button below to see all of Dodd’s Discoveries and to find the current album(s) on sale.
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It’s easy to lump composers together simply because they are contemporaries, or they come from the same place or area. I’ve written about this before in relation to Sibelius and Nielsen. The “Nordic” similarities seem stretched– Denmark (Nielsen) is traditionally more aligned in culture with Germany and continental Europe. Finland (Sibelius) is more aligned with, and occasionally was occasionally ruled by Sweden and Russia. Their languages have far different roots as well.
The music of Sibelius reflects the more rural, mythic quality of Finland, with darker orchestration. Nielsen’s music is more urban and social, with Classical roots. And Nielsen makes frequent use of humor and irony, with brighter orchestration. One writer adds: Sibelius whispers truths; Nielsen debates them. They are both right!
Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I want to recommend this LWC album of Nielsen’s 2nd and 4th Symphonies, featuring the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andris Poga. The performances are exciting and full of rhythmic energy– beautifully captured in this Edit Master Sourced release. The Second, “The 4 Temperaments” and the Fourth, “The Inextinguishable”, are marvellous!
I’m hopeful that Poga and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra will follow with the other 5 Nielsen Symphonies.
