Symphony No. 5 - Carl Nielsen
Information about Symphony No. 5 by Carl Nielsen, and the best recordings available on CD or for download.
Written after the First World War, it reflects the conflict between the horror of war and the joy of peaceful democracy.
The work was written in 1921-22, and consists of two movements lasting a total of approximately 37 minutes.
RECOMMENDED RECORDINGS
Vänskä (BIS BIS-CD-1289)
Excellent performances - the fifth in particular.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Osmo Vänskä.
BIS BIS-CD-1289
Coupled with Symphony No. 2 (The Four Temperaments)
Blomstedt (Decca 460 988-2)
Masterly performances of Nielsen's last three symphonies.
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt.
Decca 460 988-2
Coupled with Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6
Chung (BIS BIS-CD-370)
An outstanding interpretation of Nielsen's fifth. Coupled with the violin concerto.
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, 1987.
BIS BIS-CD-370