DG Releases the Complete Set of Symphonies by Carl Nielsen with DNSO and Fabio Luisi

After six years of acclaimed live performances in Europe, USA and Asia, The Danish Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi is now presenting their special take on Carl Nielsen’s symphonies on record for the first time.

Deutsche Grammophon started releasing the new recording cycle from 14th October 2022, beginning with a digital release of Nielsen’s Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5. The second digital release followed on the 9th of December, presenting the Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3. The third digital release including the symphonies Nos. 2 & 6 was out on the 27th of January 2023. The releases of six symphonies on three individual digital albums received great critical acclaim.

“These are quite marvellous (…) There’s something about the temperament of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra when they rejoice in the bracing and songful adventures of their favourite son and with an Italian at the helm there is further assurance that this music will sing.” (Gramophone)

Following the digital releases, a physical 3-CD-Set edition of the complete symphonies will be released on the 21st of April – during a two-week Carl Nielsen concert series Nielsen, Nielsen, Nielsen! in DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen, in April 2023.  The pre-order of this edition starts today.

The last album of the Nielsen cycle will be a digital album presenting Carl Nielsen’s three solo concertos for flute, clarinet and violin recorded by The Danish Symphony Orchestra and soloists Bomsori Kim (violin), Ulla Miilmann (flute) and Johnny Teyssier (clarinet).

Fabio Luisi, Chief Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, states:

“The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and I are delighted to join Deutsche Grammophon for this important release cycle. I am particularly pleased to see the complete symphonies of Carl Nielsen being featured under the famous yellow logo, placing the composer in the canon of great 20th century composers which is fully deserved.”

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is internationally acclaimed for its interpretations of Carl Nielsen’s music, cultivated through generations of musicians ever since the composer himself conducted the orchestra in the 1920s and 1930s. For Fabio Luisi, however, the symphonies of Carl Nielsen were a relatively new acquaintance when he took over the position as the orchestra’s Chief Conductor in 2016. “Nielsen’s music really belongs to the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, and it has been a beautiful experience for me as a conductor to get to know this highly interesting, complex and deeply original composer”, says Fabio Luisi.

Angelika Meissner, Director Classical, Artists & Repertoire at Deutsche Grammophon, welcomes the Nielsen cycle as an important addition to Deutsche Grammophon’s catalogue:

“Carl Nielsen’s symphonies, deeply rooted in Denmark’s landscape and culture yet universal in their appeal, are among the greatest ever written. We’re delighted to be partners in creating a new recorded cycle of these extraordinarily powerful works with an orchestra so closely associated with Nielsen and a conductor who is so open to fresh ideas and inspiration.”