Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Nielsen

An eclectic programme from this Swedish orchestra which gave sharply defined performances in repertoire that, at first glance, had seemingly little in common.

With barely time for coffee and baklava after the Orchestre Pasdeloup's Arabian matinee, I stepped boldly back into the harem for a rendezvous with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. 

Fabio Luisi and the DNSO did not disappoint audiences in San Francisco, presenting a captivating program of Beethoven, Strauss and Nielsen.

Put Sakari Oramo in front of the BBCSO and invariably something magical happens. This concert included rare repertoire from two of Oramo's favourite Scandinavian composers. 

In a cleverly-designed programme, Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra brought meticulous attention to detail and plenty of drama in three superb performances.

The ever consummate conductor delivers a trio of stylistically contrasting works by Haydn, Beethoven and Nielsen with a single trait in common: obdurate perfectionism.

Barnabás Kelemen gave a strong performance of Shostakovich to last a dark polar night in Turku. 

Paavo Järvi continues his Nielsen exploration with performances that demonstrate his attraction to Haydn and love of Brahms. 

The beginning of Prom 23 was utterly surreal. I found myself confronted by sounds I had never heard before in a concert hall.

Concertmaster Erin Keefe delivers a stellar performance of the Brahms Violin Concerto as part of a Minnesota Orchestra program, paired with a presentation of Carl Nielsen's quirky, curious final symphony.

An interesting evening where links between Haydn and Nielsen were illuminated in bold and individual performances.

Sibelius and Nielsen still in very good hands at the LSO, but whence comes such a gift as that of Daniil Trifonov?

Stephen Hough made light of the technical challenges of Dvořák's Piano Concerto; Carl Nielsen’s “Inextinguishable” symphony was an electrifying second half.

Christian Lindberg conducts the RLPO in the premiere of his own Robot Gardens alongside music by Bernstein and Nielsen

The stark forces of Nielsen and Britten were ably brought out by Jensen and the NSO; theirSchubert failed to convince. 

Accompanied by an ebulliant Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, a fine Danish cast popped open the comedic bubbly at a concert performance of Nielsen’s Maskarade at the Concertgebouw. 

It was the percussion which took the starring role as Haydn and Nielsen engaged in a lively skirmish at the Royal Festival Hall, the Philharmonia under the watchful command of Paavo Järvi. 

Cristian Măcelaru brought his pedigree as a conductor to the CBSO with Sibelius, Rachmaninov and Nielsen. How would he fare in Birmingham with such a varied programme?

This was a concert made in heaven. To hear Per Nørgård's Iris, one of a triptych of symphonic poems composed in the late 1960s, eerie and mysterious, and underlain by the influences of Sibelius and Nørgård's teacher and fellow-symphonist, Vagn Holmboe, would make a rich and rewarding enough occasion in itself.

How to compare Nielsen and Ives? Possible similarities aside, however, the impact of their work is, on the whole, wildly contrasting.

Making its fourth Proms appearance this season, the BBC National Orchestra transported the audience from the Orient in Nielsen’s Aladdin, to Ancient Greece for a world première, then to heaven in Mahler’s Symphony no. 4.

The BBC Symphony Orchestra was on great form in an exciting evening comprising a concerto and three symphonic works.

“Denmark is not all Lego and pastries!” quipped Nikolaj Znaider to the Albert Hall audience. Indeed not. It is the land of Carl Nielsen, whose 150th birthday was celebrated in a packed Prom given by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. 

A subtle and understated performance of Nielsen's Wind Quintet, followed by sophisticated and conversational Mozart from Christian Blackshaw and the Royal Northern Sinfonia Winds.

Delius resurrected, Wood introduced, Nielsen explored and thrilling Ravel at the BBC Proms.

A mixed programme thrills, launching the season with a bang

After quartets by Nielsen and Beethoven, Nordic folk song arrangements brought the first day of the 2015 City of London Festival to a festive close.

John Storgårds conducts Nielsen's sixth and third symphonies in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. John Storgårds, who also curated a similar project of Sibelius symphonies this time last year, should be very proud of these short immersive bursts of creative energy.

John Storgårds conducts the BBC Philharmonic in Carl Nielsen's First and Fourth (Inextinguishable) Symphonies with Roderick Williams singing Mahler's Wunderhorn songs in Manchester.

Directed by guest conductor Tito Muñoz, the São Paulo State Orchestra (OSESP) performed a programme centered around the different conceptions of contrast, with music by Takemitsu, Beethoven and Nielsen.

The former music director of Vienna State Opera led a brilliant concert focused on Northern European composers at the Musikverein.

Beautifully shaped performances of Nielsen and Sibelius scores, along with André Watts joining Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra in the Brahms Second Piano Concerto.

Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra find icy perfection in Sibelius last work.  

Hong Kong Sinfonietta's refreshing reading of Sibelius' 6th Symphony in "Le French May"

Ranging from the famous Grieg Piano Concerto to a lesser known work of Sibelius, this concert featured a vast array of orchestral colour evoking the shimmering landscapes of the North.

Kasper Holten's production of Carl Nielsen's delightful comedy Maskarade delights in Copenhagen.

The Royal Danish Opera's new production of Carl Nielsen's first opera Saul og David updates the action to the present-day Middle east and, while well-sung, comes off as overly simplistic.

A five star evening with Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO in 1920s masterpieces.

The Oslo Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko, and violinist James Ehnes give a dazzling performance of Nielsen's Violin Concerto, but fall flat in a strangely brutal performance of Sibelius' Symphony no. 1.

Leopold Tobisch's future expectations have been raised to a dizzying high by Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic at the Theatre des Champs Elysées.

A powerful performance of Nielsen’s Fourth Symphony is in broad contrast to its elegant companions at the Barbican. 

A short one-hour concert of chamber wind instrument music placed itself neatly tucked away in The Lantern at the Colston Hall as part of the returned Tuesday Lunchtime Concert Series.

After a stunning Sibelius cycle with Simon Rattle at the Barbican earlier in the week, this splinter group from the Berlin Philharmonic crossed the Thames to give a concert of delightful Scandinavian gems alongside a Schubert masterwork.

A sparkling new work from John McLeod throws light on the celebration of 150 years of Sibelius and Nielsen.

Carl Nielsen’s lively, genial nature permeated the whole performance of his "Espansiva" Symphony last night at the Barbican. 

The New York Philharmonic began the New Year with a rapturous program featuring Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentales, Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto, and selections from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

A new commision for the woodwind soloists of the Britten Sinfonia was the inspiration behind this beguiling lunchtime affair, consisting entirely of music for woodwind quintet spanning nearly 100 years.

“Things found here are the opposite of what they are meant to represent,” warned Thomas Dausgaard at the opening of Saturday evening’s performance pairing Beethoven and Nielsen. 

At Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, John Storgårds led the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of Sibelius’ Rakastava, Nielsen’s iconic Clarinet Concerto and Shostakovich’s ground-breaking Fourth Symphony.

In an uneven concert, Alexander Gavrylyuk outshone everyone with his part in Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, casting a shadow over a fragmented RCO led by Michael Schønwandt in Sibelius and Nielsen.