Sir Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra – Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1-6 (2014) [DSF DSD64/2.82MHz + FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Sir Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra – Carl Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1-6 (2014)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,8 MHz | Time – 201:22 minutes | 7,94 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 201:22 minutes | 4,03 GB
Source: Pure Audio Blu-Ray (Stereo Track) | Artwork: Digital Booklet

These recordings, made during Sir Colin Davis’ “Indian summer” with the orchestra, are acknowledged to be amongst the finest recordings ever made of this repertoire, receiving numerous awards. The symphonies were originally released between 2011 & 2013 & will now be made available together for the 1st time as a beautifully packaged box set, including 1 Pure Audio Blu-ray disc. Despite giving titles to the majority of his symphonies, Danish composer Carl Nielsen was often vague about what influenced each work. Nevertheless he was a master symphonist & his music is mesmerising, combining propulsive energy with lyrical invention.

Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded Carl Nielsen’s six symphonies at London’s Barbican between 2009 and 2011, and released them in pairs on the orchestra’s audiophile label, LSO Live. This trimline box set presents those hybrid SACDs, along with a Blu-Ray audio disc of all six performances together, a true convenience for collectors who have the appropriate equipment. Yet however one hears these symphonies, the recordings offer exceptional clarity and depth, and all the details of these complicated works are perfectly audible. Nielsen’s music is noted for its powerful drive, dramatic conflicts, and idiosyncratic use of folk-inspired melodies, and more than any other genre he touched, the symphonies give a clear sense of his progress as a composer. Davis’ readings are coherent and reliable, striking a balance between Nielsen’s natural lyricism and his aggressive rhythms, and while these rigorous, unsentimental interpretations may strike some listeners as a bit cool, they are far from clinical. This is an important cycle that Davis’ many admirers will want to own.

Tracklist:

01 – Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7, FS 16 – I. Allegro orgoglioso
02 – Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7, FS 16 – II. Andante
03 – Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7, FS 16 – III. Allegro comodo
04 – Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7, FS 16 – IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco
05 – Symphony No. 2 ‘The Four Temperaments’, Op. 16, FS 29 – I. Allegro collerico
06 – Symphony No. 2 ‘The Four Temperaments’, Op. 16, FS 29 – II. Allegro comodo e flemmatico
07 – Symphony No. 2 ‘The Four Temperaments’, Op. 16, FS 29 – III. Andante malincolico
08 – Symphony No. 2 ‘The Four Temperaments’, Op. 16, FS 29 – IV. Allegro sanguineo – Marziale
09 – Symphony No. 3 ‘Sinfonia Espansiva’, Op. 27, FS 60 – I. Allegro espansivo
10 – Symphony No. 3 ‘Sinfonia Espansiva’, Op. 27, FS 60 – II. Andante pastorale
11 – Symphony No. 3 ‘Sinfonia Espansiva’, Op. 27, FS 60 – III. Allegretto un poco
12 – Symphony No. 3 ‘Sinfonia Espansiva’, Op. 27, FS 60 – IV. Finale – Allegro
13 – Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’, Op. 29, FS 76 – I. Allegro
14 – Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’, Op. 29, FS 76 – II. Poco allegretto
15 – Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’, Op. 29, FS 76 – III. Poco adagio quasi andante
16 – Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inextinguishable’, Op. 29, FS 76 – IV. Allegro
17 – Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97 – I. I. – Tempo giusto
18 – Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97 – II. I. – Adagio
19 – Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97 – III. II. – Allegro
20 – Symphony No. 6 ‘Sinfonia semplice’, FS 116 – I. Tempo giusto
21 – Symphony No. 6 ‘Sinfonia semplice’, FS 116 – II. Humoreske – Allegretto
22 – Symphony No. 6 ‘Sinfonia semplice’, FS 116 – III. Proposta seria – Adagio
23 – Symphony No. 6 ‘Sinfonia semplice’, FS 116 – IV. Tema con variazioni – Allegro

Recorded live in DSD between October 2009 and December 2011 at the Barbican Centre, London.
Produced by James Mallinson. Jonathan Stokes and Neil Hutchinson for Classic Sound Ltd balance engineers and audio editors.

Musicians:
London Symphony Orchestra – Conducted by Colin Davis
Lucy Hall – soprano
Marcus Farnsworth – baritone

DSF DSD64