Nielsen: 6. Sinfonie (»Sinfonia semplice«) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Paavo Järvi

Carl Nielsen:
6. Sinfonie (»Sinfonia semplice«) ∙

I. Tempo giusto -- Lento, ma non troppo -- Tempo I 00:00 ∙
II. Humoreske. Allegretto -- Allegro -- Tempo I 13:11 ∙
III. Proposta seria. Adagio 17:35 ∙
IV. Thema mit Variationen. Allegro -- Thema. Allegretto un poco -- Variationen 1-9 -- Fanfare 23:03 ∙

hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) ∙
Paavo Järvi, Dirigent ∙

Alte Oper Frankfurt, 9. Dezember 2011 ∙

[pibbles-a-plenty]

Nielsen's 6th is a gorgeous banquet of orchestra delights and musical athletics. I love it!

[julieandrews]

Love Paavo Jarvi! He looks like he was having so much fun conducting this! Who says there can't be humor in classical music?

[brendoncampbell]

Thanks for posting. Enjoyed the conversation and the comments about late romantics transmogrifying into modernists. As an aside, I listened to Sibelius' and Walton's violin concertos together recently. It's well known that Sibelius was a strong influence on Walton, and it was lovely to hear the one composer coming through the other. Sibelius is probably my favourite symphonic composer, and I'm enjoying discovering Nielson. I love everything Walton ever did :)

[RichardASalisbury]

I've felt for a long time that Nielsen, like Sibelius and Janacek, belongs to a transitional generation of composers who began as "romantic" composers but in mid-career somehow became modernists. (Full disclosure: I'm generally much more comfortable with "modern" or 20th-Century composers than with "romantic" composers.) For me, Nielsen's Fourth Symphony marks his entree into modernism. I also consider Nielsen one of the great symphonists: in the 20th-Century, in the same league as Sibelius, Vaughn Williams, maybe even Shostakovich. Nielsen's Sixth is my favorite of his, much as I love his Fourth and Fifth--because, whereas they are grandiose (nothing pejorative meant), the Sixth is somehow not only quirkier but more personal; it not only delights me but moves me deeply at moments.

[annakimborahpa]

Bravo Paavo. Carl Nielsen's 6th reminds of Charles Ives' symphonies: Simple only in their playful, catchy rhythms and after that, anything goes.

[bobcochran]

Like his 4th and 5th symphonies, Nielsen's 6th is a virtuosic treat, a treasure among all 20th century works.

[Rx-mnfv]

It is music to make one think; not "simply" sit back and enjoy. This is a very complex symphony loaded with questions about where we are and where we are going.That is for each one of us to answer. Bravo! Bravo Nielsen!!

[chrisgordon]

When a composer bares his soul in music which is superbly crafted, yet is also touched by humility and by an absence of self-glorification, there you have art of the highest order.

[vanhouten]

I. Tempo giusto
13:11 II. Humoreske
17:35 III. Proposta seria
23:03 IV. Thema mit Variationen
^helpful comment.

[bigcedock]

Very, very fine performance of this strange and wonderful symphony. I continue to fail to understand those astute and surely appreciative (?) commentators who constantly complain about too-fast tempi. My friends, you must LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, and appreciate the FLOW, FLOW, FLOW. Just sayin'. 

[christopherallen]

The end of Proposta seria (III)! The serene resignation ... Never thought Nielsen could bring a tear to my eye ... What an artist!

[TheVaughan]

I adore Nielsen's symphonies, in fact I think he is one of the finest composers of that idiom but I can't quite get into the 6th though it's growing on me as the best music usually does!

[tardistraindude]

Traindude Fine performance. I wish that Nielsen's music was performed more. What a glorious moment in the 1st movement when the horns play at 504. This piece is whimsical and profound. Genius!

[omenoflaherty]

The strings in the third movement are so dark, mysterious, and hypnotizing.

[futura]

Cette symphonie est un chef d'oeuvre ! L'interprétation est remarquable et la battue de Paavo Jarvi est à la fois sobre et expressive ...Bravo et merci pour cette vidéo ...

[tommartin]

Here was Carl Nielsen, a hundred years ahead of his time, feeling regrets that his music didn't amount to much !

[tonigarzon]

Para mí Nielsen es, sin duda, el "músico del silencio". Y esta sinfonía me lo confirma. El silencio es una parte fundamental de la partitura.

[Theatersounz]

This symphony beautifully contrasts against itself I love it!

[charleswise]

Marvelous performance of a truly great piece of comedic music.

[ronaldbwoodall]

Somewhere I came across the (mis?)information that Nielsen was, in this symphony, poking fun at the "avant-garde" music of the time, and it sounds as if that were the case. But intentionally or not, he produced a masterpiece of stylistic and orchestral invention, elicting various but subdued emotions. And it's hilarious! It could be called his "Concerto for Orchestra", with its many instrumental highlights (part of the third movement heralds a similar passage in Bartok's famous one). The outbursts beginning at 28:30 remind me of Charles Ives; I wonder if Nielsen was familiar with his music. In any case, his 6th is always a delight to hear.