Composer of the Week - Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) - Episode 4

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Carl Nielsen, Denmark's best-known composer. In 1914, after his resignation as conductor at the Royal Theatre, Nielsen's conducting career wasn't going so well. Things began to look up when he was offered work in Sweden and appointed conductor of Copenhagen's Philharmonic Orchestra. His personal life was in crisis, too - his wife had asked for a legal separation, a situation which would last for the next eight years. Donald introduces works from those turbulent years, including his Piano Suite, regarded as the most important music Nielsen wrote for the instrument, part of the Wind Quintet written for five friends and his most popular choral work - the folk oratorio Springtime in Funen. Afsted! Aksel Schiotz Danacord DACOCD365-367 CD1 Tr 8 Suite Martin Roscoe (piano) Hyperion CDA67591/2, CD2 Tr 1 Wind Quintet (4th mvt) Athena Ensemble Chandos 10454 X Trs 1-3 Springtime in Funen Inga Nielsen (soprano) Peter Gronlund (tenor) Sten Byriel (bass-baritone) Children's Chorus of Sankt Annae Gymnasium Leif Segerstam (conductor) Chandos CHAN8853 Tr 3.