Search - Carl Nielsen, Oslo String Quartet :: Nielsen: String Quartets Vol.2

Good Early Music from the Great Dane

04/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"According to the cover notes to this recording, Nielsen's string quartets are coming to be regarded as some of the most important chamber music of the late 19th century. Would they'd show up more frequently on string quartet programs--I've never seen them programmed--because they are works well worth knowing. Quartets 1 and 2 have all the restless youthful energy of Nielsen's first two symphonies, along with the typically tender slow movements and, by turns, witty and brooding scherzi that admirers of the symphonies will recognize as Nielsen trademarks.I slightly prefer the First Quartet, which seems to have an endless stream of good melodies and clever uses for them. I expecially like the fade-away coda of the slow movement, with its sweet harmonics, and although the last movement may outstay its welcome, the last pages ring such interesting changes on the thematic material of the movement that amends are made most generously.If the string quartet is one of the hardest mediums to write for, it's remarkable how adept this largely self-taught composer was so early in his career at meeting the challenge. These are fully idiomatic quartets that sound as natural to the medium as Mozart's or Mendelssohn's. Now, great music this may not be, but treasurably entertaining music it most definitely is.As with Naxos' Volume 2, Volume 1 of Nielsen's complete quartets is in the very capable hands of the Oslo Quartet, who obviously take Nielsen as seriously as he needs to be taken. Lovely playing, fine sonics--for Nielsen lovers, this is a must, and for those interested in the fertile byways of late 19th-century chamber music, the disc is highly recommendable as well."

Delightful

Santiago Barcon | Mexico city | 10/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"String quartets are like a window to the soul of the composer and Nielsen is wide open in this recording, specially in No. 1 Sensual, but with majestic intentions.Nielsen has some hints of Schubert, but is very personal. The performance by the Oslo string quartet is excellent and obviously have a feeling for scandinavian music.At Naxos prices, a no brainer."