Carl Nielsen: The Symphonies Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Fabio Luisi

• Carl Nielsen (1865 - 1931): Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 7:
• 1 Nielsen: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 7: I. Allegro orgoglioso 09:20
• 2 Nielsen: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 7: II. Andante 07:47
• 3 Nielsen: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 7: III. Allegro comodo 07:49
• 4 Nielsen: Symphony No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 7: IV. Allegro con fuoco 08:57
• Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments":
• 5 Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments": I. Allegro collerico 10:08
• 6 Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments": II. Allegro comodo e flemmatico 04:56
• 7 Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments": III. Andante malincolico 12:56
• 8 Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The Four Temperaments": IV. Allegro sanguineo 07:02
• Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Espansiva":
• 9 Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Espansiva": I. Allegro espansivo 11:11
• 10 Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Espansiva": II. Andante pastorale 10:38
• 11 Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Espansiva": III. Allegretto un poco 06:43
• 12 Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Espansiva": IV. Finale. Allegro 10:52
• Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable":
• 13 Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable": I. Allegro 12:24
• 14 Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable": II. Poco allegretto 04:32
• 15 Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable": III. Poco adagio quasi andante 10:47
• 16 Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable": IV. Allegro 08:52
• Symphony No. 5, Op. 50:
• 17 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: Ia. Tempo giusto 10:29
• 18 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: Ib. Adagio 08:53
• 19 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: IIa. Allegro 06:13
• 20 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: IIb. Presto 02:58
• 21 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: IIc. Andante poco tranquillo 04:20
• 22 Nielsen: Symphony No. 5, Op. 50: IId. Allegro 02:56
• Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice":
• 23 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": I. Tempo giusto 14:28
• 24 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": II. Humoreske 04:11
• 25 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": III. Proposta seria 05:27
• 26 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVa. Allegro – Tema. Allegretto un poco 00:58
• 27 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVb. Var. 1 00:32
• 28 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVc. Var. 2. Allegretto quasi andantino 00:28
• 29 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVd. Var. 3. Più vivo – Var. 4. – Var. 5. Brioso 02:17
• 30 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVe. Var. 6. Tempo di Valse – Var. 7 02:11
• 31 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVf. Var. 8. Molto adagio 03:02
• 32 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVg. Var. 9. Tempo di tema 00:28
• 33 Nielsen: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia Semplice": IVh. Fanfare 01:44
• Total Runtime 03:36:29

Info for Carl Nielsen: The Symphonies

The symphonies of Danish composer Carl Nielsen, deeply rooted in the Danish landscape and culture yet with universal appeal, are among the great works of the symphonic repertoire. Deutsche Grammophon is delighted to include Nielsen's complete symphonies in its catalogue - and to do so with an orchestra closely associated with the composer and a conductor open to new ideas and inspiration. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra has been internationally renowned for its interpretations of Carl Nielsen's music since the composer himself conducted the orchestra in the 1920s and 1930s. Now, under its principal conductor Fabio Luisi, the orchestra has recorded its special interpretation of Nielsen's symphonies for the first time after many years of acclaimed live performances. "The DNSO plays with wonderful commitment and finesse." (Gramophone Critics Choice), "The orchestra members seemed to have Nielsen's distinctively pointed language running through their veins, and Luisi spurred the ensemble on to extravagant shows of passion." (San Francisco Chronicle) are just some of the fantastic reviews the orchestra received for their performances. This 3-album edition of the six symphonies offers a true listening experience that brings listeners closer to Nielsen's very own, direct, lively and heartfelt musical language. And unquestionably, the DNSO is well acquainted with their special features.

"Overall, this collection of Carl Nielsen symphonies is an excellent choice for any classical music lover. The works are innovative and powerful and are very well played by Fabio Luisi and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in this recording. Luisi has clearly developed in his conducting. Whereas in the past he sometimes seemed hectic and superficial, these recordings breathe a confident calmness of design that makes you want more. The recording quality is excellent and is complemented by a well-edited booklet." (Dirk Schauß, onlinemerker.com)

Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Fabio Luisi, conductor

Fabio Luisi
is Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Danish Radio National Symphony Orchestra (DR Symfoni Orkestret), Emeritus Conductor of the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI based in Torino, Principal Conductor of the NHK Orchestra in Tokyo and Honorary Conductor of Teatro Carlo Felice of Genova, his native town.

In addition to the symphonic activity with the various orchestras with which he has a privileged relation, in the 22/23 season Maestro Luisi conducts a new production of Vespri Siciliani at the Teatro alla Scala, he continues the recording of Carl Nielsen’s symphonies with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon. In 2024 will present the complete cycle “Der Ring des Nibelungen” by Wagner in concert version with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra - an event never performed before by any US orchestra.

He conducts the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Berliner Philharmoniker just to name a few.

A former Principal conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Luisi has been honored with the Gold Medal and Gold Ring dedicated to Bruckner. His past engagements include Music Director at the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Sächsische Staatsoper, Principal Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Artistic Director of the Leipzig Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Music Director of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Principal Conductor of the Tonkünstler-Orchester in Vienna and Artistic Director of the Graz Symphony Orchestra.

Luisi received a Grammy Award for his conducting of the last two operas of The Ring of the Nibelung, and the DVD of the same cycle, recorded live at the Metropolitan and released by Deutsche Grammophon, was named Best Opera Recording in 2012. His extensive discography includes works by Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Salieri, and Vincenzo Bellini; symphonies by Arthur Honegger, Ottorino Respighi, and Franz Liszt; music by Franz Schmidt and Richard Strauss; and his award-winning interpretation of Anton Bruckner's Ninth Symphony. In 2015, the Philharmonia Zürich launched its own Philharmonia Records record label with Luisi's interpretations of Hector Berlioz, Richard Wagner, and Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, to which was recently added the rare performance of the original version of Bruckner's Eighth Symphony.

Fabio Luisi was awarded the Grifo d'Oro for his contribution to the cultural heritage of the city of Genoa.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra
was founded in 1925 as part of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Today, it is one of the leading symphony orchestras in Europe, performing with the world’s leading conductors and soloists. Since 2016, the Chief Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra has been Fabio Luisi, who succeeded the late Spanish maestro Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Former Principal Conductors and Principal Guest Conductors include Herbert Blomstedt (conductor laureate), Thomas Dausgaard, Gerd Albrecht, Leif Segerstam, Dmitri Kitajenko and Yuri Temirkanov. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra has performed with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leonidas Kavakos, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Leif Ove Andsnes, Lang Lang, Anna Netrebko, Daniel Barenboim, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yehudi Menuhin and Itzhak Perlman. The orchestra has toured extensively in the USA, in South America, in Japan, China and in most countries in Europe, and performed at some of the most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the Musikverein – always with Danish music on the repertoire.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra has a special feeling for Danish music – from classics like Carl Nielsen and Niels W. Gade to very young composing talents. Each year more than 100,000 music-lovers experience the magic of live symphonic music with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – both in the spectacular hall of DR Koncerthuset (designed by Jean Nouvel) and on the orchestra’s annual tour abroad. In addition to the concert audiences, the orchestra’s popular Thursday Concerts are enjoyed by half a million Danes on radio and TV, and millions the world over tune in when the concerts are broadcast internationally.

Booklet for Carl Nielsen: The Symphonies