These three works are from venerable Decca LXTs of
the early 1950s: 1952, 1954 and 1953 respectively. Dutton’s Cedarised
sound derived from the Decca originals is very healthy. It is without
glare. I recall these recordings from Decca LP budget Eclipse series
in the early 1970s when the sound (occasionally in faked stereo!) was
meagre in the extreme. Dutton have banished such parsimony.
The symphonies are conducted by Jensen; the overture
by Tuxen. These recordings are as close as we can get to an ‘authentic’
tradition in so far as that phrase has any useful meaning. Jensen (a
cellist) was an orchestral musician in orchestras conducted by Nielsen
so could lay some claim to authority. Frankly though, such debate is
empty of significance in the face of the reeling commitment of these
performances. Jensen's recording is of analytical clarity and Dutton
faithfully capitalise on this without compromising warmth.
The First Symphony reverberates with the voices of
Dvorak and Brahms. Jensen keeps things in virile motion and is sensitive
to the emergent individuality of Nielsen's voice. As for the Fifth this
stands as a reference version. Only the accident of the coincidence
of monophonic history and the time and inclination of Decca, Danish
Radio and Jensen prevent this recording being first choice. Certainly
anyone who is already captivated by Nielsen and perhaps has one of the
other symphonic cycles will want this as a supplement. The sound is
as good as it could be given the dates and circumstances of the recording
sessions.
Robert Layton's notes and Dutton's discriminating decision
to use reproductions of the original LP sleeves complete a catalogue-significant
issue.
Rob Barnett
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Jensen