Symphonies 1 & 4 [Import]

This cd was my first opportunity to listen to Nielsen's wonderful First Symphony many years ago. Don't let the number fool you. Nielsen was very much his own man here from the first. The evidence? A big C Major chord begins the work and the first theme launches off right away in the key of G Minor. Already the tonal shifting and rhythmic intensity are in evidence. Further tonal shifts happen in the last movment, which also begins with a C major chord, then resolving to a C minor chord and launching into G Minor. The whole symphony ends in a blaze of C Major glory. Apparently some people were a little shocked at this symphony in G Minor ending in C major. Nowadays this does not phase one out too much considering the tonal byways composers have used over the last 100 years. Berglund's performance is one of the great ones of this piece. He keeps things moving. The gorgeous brass trio in the 3rd movement is very well done (this section is a transformation of the A section of this Scherzo). The 4th symphony may be my favorite 20th century symphony. Berglund's performance was one of the more recent recordings to get to more of the right tempo relationships in this symphony. Berglund does not dawdle. The end of the symphony goes extremely fast and almost too fast. Compare this recording with Bernstein's and see what I mean. Strangely, though, he is the only person to misread the last chord of the first movement - somehow the E major chord turns into and E minor chord which is very disconcerting. I have not heard any of the other Berglund recordings so I cannot tell you to buy the box set of all of the symphonies although I am interested in hearing them. Blomstedt's cycle is probably the best all-around set of all of the symphonies, but I always have to mention Martinon's marvelous Chicago Symphony recording of the 4th on RCA as well as the Vanska recording on BIS. Sir Colin Davis' new 4 and 5 on LSO Live also has its felicities - in fact, the tempos are closer to Berglund's in the 4th movement. Happy listening!