As the twentieth century loomed, Nielsen considered how he could best move Danish music away from what he referred to as the ‘gravy and grease’ of the German musical tradition. He began to imagine a new sort of music that would fuse perceptions of the high and low in art. Nielsen’s symphonies, bursting with vitality, humour and energy, had an energizing effect. In the first three, musical energy is given free rein. In the fourth and fifth, written during and after World War I, that energy is set up against violent destructive forces.

This wonderful new recording from the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Poga brings Nielesen’s second and fourth symphonies together on distinguished Norwegian label, Lawo Classics. Located on Norway’s southwest coast, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) performs in Stavanger Concert Hall, regarded as one of the finest acoustic venues in Europe. Andris Poga has been the orchestra’s Chief Conductor since the 2021–22 season. Founded in 1938, the orchestra today consists of 85 musicians representing 24 nationalities.