Carl NIELSEN (1865-1931)
Complete Concertos:
Violin Concerto, Op. 33/FS61;
Clarinet Concerto Op. 57/FS129;
Flute Concerto, FS119.
Jonathan Carney (violin);
Kevin Banks (clarinet); Gareth Davies (flute); Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra/Kees Bakels.
Naxos 8.554189
[DDD]
[78'59]
Crotchet
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These performances (the only such coupling at super-budget price) are guaranteed
to provide pleasure. Two other discs of complete Nielsen concertos come at
full price - on BIS (CD616) and on Chandos (CHAN8894). The three Naxos soloists
each capture the essence of their respective concertos and the orchestra
throughout is idiomatically supportive, with particularly characterful woodwind
contributions.
The sweet-toned Jonathan Carney captures the wistful qualities of the Violin
Concerto well, although the orchestral strings are more pedestrian. Carney
brings off the cadenza brilliantly and sensitively: the ruminative slow movement
is delicately shaded and the final Allegretto scherzando trips along in as
rustic and spiky a fashion as one could wish.
The Clarinet Concerto shows a different side of Nielsen's persona. The opening
promises the Danish answer to the Finzi Clarinet Concerto, but there is vigour
as well in this performance. The active side-drum part is enjoyed to the
full. Banks is an intensely musical soloist who will not disappoint.
The shrillness in the upper frequencies of this recording is bot enough to
distract from that Nordic pastoral, the Flute Concerto. Gareth Davies is
appropriately warm-toned, and the orchestra relishes the occasionally complex
writing. The amiable flute answer to the incisive string opening to the
Allegretto serves as an ideal example of the chamber music feel to this
performance.
Although the two alternatives mentioned above both use scandic soloists,
this release still feels as if it at least touches the heart of this most
approachable music.
Reviewer
Colin Clarke
Performance
Recording
