Discography of Nielsen symphony cycles explained

The Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) was one of the most important symphonists of the early twentieth century: his six symphonies, written between 1892 and 1925, are the core of his . Many of classical music's conductor–orchestra partnerships have recorded the complete set, colloquially known as the "Nielsen cycle". Specifically, the standard cycle includes:

• Symphony No. 1 in G minor, (1892)
• Symphony No. 2, The Four Temperaments (Danish: De fire Temperamenter), (1902)
• Symphony No. 3, Italian: Sinfonia espansiva, (1911)
• Symphony No. 4, The Inextinguishable (Danish: Det Uudslukkelige), (1916)
• Symphony No. 5, (1922)
• Symphony No. 6, Italian: Sinfonia semplice, FS 116 (1925)

As of, the Nielsen cycle been recorded 22 times. The most recently completed cycle, finished in 2022, is by Fabio Luisi and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra; an additional projected twenty-third cycle is in progress, according to press releases. Two conductors have tackled the project more than once: Herbert Blomstedt (1974, 1989) and Michael Schønwandt (2000, 2000) recorded the Nielsen cycle two times. Among ensembles, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra has recorded the cycle a record four times.

Precursors

Several Danish conductors associated with Danish Radio performed Nielsen's symphonies. Most notably, Thomas Jensen recorded the complete cycle with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1947 to 1959: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5 for Decca, No. 6 for Tono (Mercury in the U.S., World Record Club in the U.K.), and No. 2 for His Master's Voice (HMV), as well as live broadcast recordings of Nos. 3 and 4. These have since been collected into an informal Nielsen cycle and re-released by Danacord.

Conductor! rowspan=2 scope=col

Orchestra	Years	Symphony runtime	Recording venue	Label
scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col
	Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra		32:52	31:05	34:51	33:16	33:30	32:44	Danish Radio Concert Hall	Danacord

Complete Nielsen cycles: 1974–present

Complete cycles

! rowspan=2 scope=col

Conductor	Orchestra	Years	Symphony runtime	Recording venue	Label
scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col
1		London Symphony Orchestra (1)		34:34	31:55	38:26	34:02	35:43	35:02	Church of St. Giles, Cripplegate	Unicorn, Regis
2	(1)	(1)		35:52	33:46	35:58	34:09	35:35	35:12	Danish Radio Concert Hall	EMI Classics, Warner Classics
3		Royal Danish Orchestra		31:28	32:12	35:23	33:11	36:35	32:41	Odd Fellows Hall	RCA Red Seal
4	(2)	San Francisco Symphony		32:57	32:21	35:23	36:13	35:34	34:01	Davies Symphony Hall	Decca
5		Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra		32:21	32:27	37:57	36:07	36:52	32:19	Berwald Hall	CBS Masterworks, Sony Classical
6		Royal Scottish National Orchestra		32:10	30:15	36:18	35:41	35:02	33:48	Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow ^(1–2) Glasgow City Halls ^(3, 5) Caird Hall ^(4, 6)	Chandos
7		Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra		30:20	32:38	37:43	33:56	33:54	32:26	Gothenburg Concert Hall	Deutsche Grammophon
8		Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (1)		37:01	35:32	42:02	37:04	36:45	34:52	Stockholm Concert Hall	Chandos
9		National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland		33:08	32:23	35:51	36:28	37:04	34:25	National Concert Hall	Naxos
10		Odense Symphony Orchestra		36:08	?	37:47	36:24	35:41	35:51		Kontrapunkt
11	(1)	(2)		34:00	33:55	37:16	36:28	38:21	34:34	Danish Radio Concert Hall	Dacapo, Naxos
12	(2)	(3)		33:30	34:45	37:55	35:59	37:39	36:50	Danish Radio Concert Hall	Dacapo
13		Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra		31:06	32:10	36:22	36:37	34:48	31:37	Sibelius Hall ^(1–2) Kulttuuritalo ^(3–6)	Finlandia
14		Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra		31:21	31:19	35:40	34:45	33:11	33:33	Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool	Classico
15		BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra		35:45	33:41	36:14	35:31	36:40	33:44	Glasgow City Halls	BIS
16		Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra		33:11	32:06	36:49	34:00	34:40	34:48		Brilliant Classics
17		London Symphony Orchestra (2)		33:20	31:54	34:41	31:21	35:17	34:51	Barbican Centre	LSO Live
18		Frankfurt Radio Symphony		33:59	33:39	37:19	35:00	37:03	33:16	Friedrich-von-Thiersch-Saal, Wiesbaden Kurhaus ^(1) Großer Saal, Alte Oper ^(2–6)	RCA Red Seal
19		Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (2)		33:50	31:21	37:48	35:15	33:50	32:32	Stockholm Concert Hall	BIS
20		New York Philharmonic		33:18	35:08	37:15	35:57	36:57	34:28	Avery Fisher Hall	Dacapo
21		BBC Philharmonic		33:20	33:09	37:57	35:08	36:00	35:18	MediaCityUK	Chandos
22		(4)		33:51	34:56	39:22	36:31	35:45	35:38	DR Koncerthuset	Deutsche Grammophon

Incomplete Nielsen cycles: 1962–present

Projected cycles in progress

As of, there is one new Nielsen cycle in progress, by Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Once completed, this will be a record fourth Nielsen cycle for Chandos.

Conductor! rowspan=2 scope=col

Orchestra	Years	Symphony runtime	Recording venue	Label
scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col
	Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra		–	–	34:57	34:25	–	–	Grieg Hall	Chandos

Incomplete cycles no longer in progress

In addition to the 22 completed Nielsen cycles, there are a number of incomplete traversals available to the public. The sortable table below includes these incomplete cycles for which a conductor recorded with the same orchestra at least three of the six symphonies:

Conductor! rowspan=2 scope=col

Orchestra	Years	Symphony runtime	Recording venue	Label
scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col		scope=col
	New York Philharmonic		–	34:36	37:21	40:10	33:13	–	CBS 30th Street Studio ^(2) Odd Fellows Hall ^(3) Avery Fisher Hall ^(4) Manhattan Center ^(5)	Sony Classical
	Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra		33:55	34:11	37:30	–	33:05	–	Gothenburg Concert Hall	BIS
	Seattle Symphony		33:00	30:03	36:34	34:07	–	–	Benaroya Hall	Seattle Symphony Media

Notes, references, and sources

Sources

Liner notes

• Thomas Jensen Legacy, Volume 4: Carl Nielsen  / Danish Orchestral Music by Koppel, Holmboe, Tarp, Schierbeck. Thomas Jensen & Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2021. CD booklet. Dacacord. DACOCD 914. .
• Thomas Jensen Legacy, Volume 6: Carl Nielsen  / Sibelius Niels Viggo Bentzon Symphony 4. Thomas Jensen & Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2021. CD booklet. Dacacord. DACOCD 916. .
• Thomas Jensen Legacy, Volume 13: Carl Nielsen  / Sibelius . Thomas Jensen & Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2022. CD booklet. Dacacord. DACOCD 923. .
• Carl Nielsen: Complete Symphonies 1–6. Ole Schmidt & London Symphony Orchestra. 2001. CD booklet. Regis. RRC 3002. .  
• Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1–6. Herbert Blomstedt & Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2007. CD booklet. Warner Classics. . .  
• Paavo Berglund Conducts Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1–6. Paavo Berglund &Royal Danish Orchestra. 2015. CD booklet. RCA Red Seal. 88875052182. .  
• Nielsen: The Symphonies, Nos. 1–3. Herbert Blomstedt & San Francisco Symphony. 1999. CD booklet. Decca. 460 985–2. .  
• Nielsen: The Symphonies, Nos. 4–5. Herbert Blomstedt & San Francisco Symphony. 1999. CD booklet. Decca. 460 988–2. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Helios Overture. Esa-Pekka Salonen & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1986. CD booklet. CBS Masterworks. MK 42093. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 1. Esa-Pekka Salonen & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1987. CD booklet. CBS Masterworks. MK 42321. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony Masquerade (Overture – Prelude – Dance). Esa-Pekka Salonen & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1988. CD booklet. CBS Masterworks. MK 44547. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "Four Temperaments" / Pan & Syrinx, Aladdin Suite. Esa-Pekka Salonen & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1989. CD booklet. CBS Masterworks. MK 44934. .  
• Nielsen: Symphonies . Esa-Pekka Salonen & Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1991. CD booklet. Sony Classical. SK 46500. .  
• Nielsen: Complete Symphonies. Bryden Thomson & Royal Scottish Orchestra. 1993. CD booklet. Chandos. CHAN 9163–5. .  
• Nielsen: Complete Symphonies. Neeme Järvi & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 2005. CD booklet. Deutsche Grammophon. E4775514. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphonies. Gennady Rozhdestvensky & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. 2004. CD booklet. Chandos. CHAN 10271(3) X. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5. Adrian Leaper & National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. 1994. CD booklet. Naxos. 8.550743. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva". Adrian Leaper & National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. 1994. CD booklet. Naxos. 8.550825. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice". Adrian Leaper & National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. 1995. CD booklet. Naxos. 8.550826. .  
• Symphony Saul & David Suite / Helios Overture. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1993. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32157. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Bohemian-Danish Folk Tune / Symphonic Rhapsody. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1993. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32171. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Overture to Cupid and the Poet / Snefrid Suite. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1994. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32178. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Pan and Syrinx / At the Bier of a Young Artist / Saga-Dream. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1994. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32193. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Andante tranquillo–Scherzo / Maskarade Suite. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1995. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32203. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Overture 3rd Act from Willemoes / Rhapsodic Overture / The Mother Suite. Edward Serov & Odense Symphony Orchestra. 1995. CD booklet. Kontrapunkt. 32210. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva". Michael Schønwandt & Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2000. CD booklet. Dacapo. 8.224126. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5. Michael Schønwandt & Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2000. CD booklet. Dacapo. 8.224156. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice". Michael Schønwandt & Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2000. CD booklet. Dacapo. 8.224169. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Complete Symphonies. Michael Schønwandt & Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2006. DVD booklet. Dacapo. 2.110403–05. .  
• Nielsen: . Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1998. CD booklet. Finlandia. 3984–21439–2. .  
• Nielsen: . Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2000. CD booklet. Finlandia. 3984–29714–2. .  
• Nielsen: . Jukka-Pekka Saraste & Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2001. CD booklet. Finlandia. 8573–85574–2. .  
• Carl Nielsen, Vol. 1: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 5. Douglas Bostock & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 1999. CD booklet. Classico. CLASSCD 296. .  
• Carl Nielsen, Vol. 2: Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Helios / Songs / Paraphrase. Douglas Bostock & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 1999. CD booklet. Classico. CLASSCD 297. .  
• Carl Nielsen, Vol. 3: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Cupid and the Poet / Songs / Symphonic Rhapsody. Douglas Bostock & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 1999. CD booklet. Classico. CLASSCD 298. .  
• Carl Nielsen, Vol. 4: Symphony Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice" / Andante tranquilo e Scherzo. Douglas Bostock & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. 1999. CD booklet. Classico. CLASSCD 299. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice". Osmo Vänskä & BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 2002. CD booklet. BIS. CD–1079. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable". Osmo Vänskä & BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 2002. CD booklet. BIS. CD–1209. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 5. Osmo Vänskä & BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 2003. CD booklet. BIS. CD–1289. .  
• Nielsen: The Symphonies (Complete). Theodore Kuchar & Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra. 2012. CD booklet. Brilliant Classics. 92885. .  
• Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 1–6. Sir Colin Davis & London Symphony Orchestra. 2015. CD booklet. LSO Live. LSO0789. .  
• Nielsen: The Complete Symphonies 1–6. Paavo Järvi & Frankfurt Radio Symphony. 2015. CD booklet. RCA Red Seal. 88875178802. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5. Sakari Oramo & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. 2013. CD booklet. BIS. BIS–2028 SACD. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva". Sakari Oramo & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. 2014. CD booklet. BIS. BIS–2048 SACD. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice". Sakari Oramo & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. 2013. CD booklet. BIS. BIS–2128 SACD. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments". Alan Gilbert & New York Philharmonic. 2012. CD booklet. Dacapo. 6.220623. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 1. Alan Gilbert & New York Philharmonic. 2014. CD booklet. Dacapo. 6.220624. .  
• Carl Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 6, "Sinfonia simplice". Alan Gilbert & New York Philharmonic. 2014. CD booklet. Dacapo. 6.220625. .  
• Nielsen: Complete Symphonies. John Storgårds & BBC Philharmonic. 2015. CD booklet. Chandos. CHAN 10859(3). .  
• Carl Nielsen: The Symphonies. Fabio Luisi & Danish National Symphony Orchestra. 2023. CD booklet. Deutsche Grammophon. 4863471. .
• Nielsen: Violin Concerto / Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable". Edward Gardner & Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. 2023. CD booklet. Chandos. CHSA 5311. .
• Nielsen: Flute Concerto / Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Pan and Syrnix. Edward Gardner & Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. 2024. CD booklet. Chandos. CHSA 5312. .
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments" / Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable". Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic. 1993. CD booklet. Sony Classical. SMK 47597 (The Royal Edition, No. 59/100). .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Symphony No. 5. Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic. 1993. CD booklet. Sony Classical. SMK 47598 (The Royal Edition, No. 60/100). .  
• Carl Nielsen: The Six Complete Symphonies / The Three Concertos. Myung-Whun Chung & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 1993. CD booklet. BIS. CD–614/616. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony No. 3, "Sinfonia espansiva" / Symphony No. 4, "The Inextinguishable". Thomas Dausgaard & Seattle Symphony. 2017. CD booklet. Seattle Symphony Media. SSM1017. .  
• Nielsen: Symphony Symphony No. 2, "The Four Temperaments". Thomas Dausgaard & Seattle Symphony. 2020. CD booklet. Seattle Symphony Media. SSM1024. .  

News articles

• News: Javier. Hernández. 11 January 2022. Seattle Maestro Resigns by Email and Says He Felt 'Not Safe'. The New York Times. 2 November 2022.