An Un-Matched 3rd And A Great 5th
Jeffrey Lipscomb | Sacramento, CA United States | 07/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't say enough good things about Dutton's transfers here. My first encounter with the "Espansiva" was the fine Bernstein account on Columbia LP, which was a trifle mannered and a bit ponderous in the last movement, but nonetheless one of that conductor's very finest efforts. Around 1972 I found a battered old London LP of this Tuxen 3rd (recorded 1946) in a Boston flea market. Underneath all the grungy noise and crackle I could detect a noble and powerful performance. In this magical Dutton transfer, Tuxen's unmatched mastery now bursts forth in all its glory - it sounds like excellent mid-1950's mono. No matter what other versions you may have, this exultant Tuxen reading deserves a place in your collection - it is simply superb!The 5th symphony under Tuxen exists in two different versions, both with the Danish State Radio Symphony: this studio account (1950) and a "live" 1955 concert reading from Paris. The latter can be heard on "Carl Nielsen Collection: Volume I" (Danacord 351-353, an absolutely indispensible 3-disc set of all six symphonies in historic performances by Danish conductors). Both are magnificent readings, but the sound of the "live" Paris account suffers from a noisy audience, rather diffuse sound, and a deficiency of bass response. However, neither of these quite matches my benchmark performance: Thomas Jensen's thrilling studio 5th from 1954, now available in a top-notch transfer on Dutton 2502 (coupled with Jensen's commanding Symphony #1 and an excellent "Helios" Overture with Tuxen). Nothing recorded since comes anywhere near Jensen's impassioned 5th.Dutton is to be congratulated here for providing us with one of the finest-ever CD transfers of priceless historic performances. Anyone who loves Nielsen's music should pounce on this issue before it disappears."