Episode 4
Donald Macleod introduces works from the turbulent years when Nielsen's career and personal life were in crisis. With Afsted!; Wind Quintet (4th mvt); Springtime in Funen.
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.
Last on
Music Played
![]()
Carl Nielsen
Afsted!
Performer: Aksel Schiotz
- Danacord DACOCD365-367.
![]()
Carl Nielsen
Suite
Performer: Martin Roscoe (piano) Performer: Hyperion CDA67591/2, CD2 Tr 1 Performer: Wind Quintet (4th mvt) Performer: Athena Ensemble
- Chandos 10454 X.
![]()
Carl Nielsen
Springtime in Funen
Performer: Inga Nielsen (soprano) Performer: Peter Gronlund (tenor) Performer: Sten Byriel (bass-baritone) Performer: Children's Chorus of Sankt Annae Gymnasium Performer: Leif Segerstam (conductor)
- Chandos CHAN8853.
Broadcasts
- Thu 5 Nov 200912:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 5 Nov 200922:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
