Nielsen, Carl - Masquerade (excerpts)/Snefrid Suite - Dausgaard, Thomas (conductor)

---

---

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE/
RECORDING OF THE MONTH



HÖGSTA BETYG I P2:s CD-REVYN




ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10

SOUND QUALITY: 10

(CLASSICSTODAY.com)



'For Denmark’s national composer, Carl Nielsen’s international reputation is still not all that it might be. True, his operas Maskarade and, to a lesser extent, Saul and David, are revived from time to time, and the symphonies are performed. But none have really broken through as staple fare. It’s hard to understand why, especially on this evidence. Thomas Dausgaard and his Danish National Symphony Orchestra, who play like demons, fill this music with energy and passion. So much affinity is evident for the composer here that it is infectious. The overture to Maskerade opens like an invitation to the dance, while works like the soulful prelude to Act III of Willemoes are filled with a quiet, searching quality. Similarly, Cupid and the Poet is marked with the instruction allegretto con brio and there’s plenty of brio in the Danes’ interpretation. For which read an evident happiness at music they feel absolutely at home with, and that is clearly close to their hearts. Our critic David Fanning was left ecstatic by this disc, suggesting it may very possibly end up as his recording of the year. It’s that sort of recording, an absolute triumph.'

(Gramophone)



"Här finns en rad av Carl Nielsens kortare orkesterstycken samlade inklusive en del för- och mellanspel från operor och skådespel.
Huvudnumren utgörs dock av ”Helios”, ”En fantasirejse til Færøerne”, ”Pan og Syrinx” och sviten ”Snefrid”. Thomas Dausgaard går som vanligt till direkt och kraftfull attack. Orkestern svarar genom att spela med all den energi och lust och humor som Nielsen kräver, och Dacapo står för ett dejeligt ljud."

(Nerikes Allehanda)



Danish National Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Dausgaard


Carl Nielsen

Masquerade, Op. 39 (excerpts)

1. Overture

2. Hanedans



3. Master Oluf Rides, Op. 37: Prelude



Snefrid Suite, Op. 17

4. Prelude

5. Andante quasi sostenuto

6. Postlude: Allegro non troppo

7. Snefrid's Sleep: Andante - Quasi allegretto - Andante

8. Funeral Music: Andante sostenuto



9. Saul and David, Op. 25: Prelude to Act 2

10. Rhapsodic Overture - A Fantasy Journey to the Faroes, Op. 123

11. Willemoes, Op. 44: Prelude to Act 3

12. Pan and Syrinx, Op. 49

13. Cupid and the Poet, Op. 54: Overture

14. Helios Overture, Op. 17