Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments'

This page lists all recordings of Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments', by Carl August Nielsen (1865-1931) on CD & DVD. Generally, more recent CDs and DVDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock.

Recommendations

Penguin Guide

4 star

All recordings

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Nielsen:

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7 (FS16)

Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments'

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Finlandia - 8573855742

(CD)

$17.49

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Nielsen:

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7 (FS16)

Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments'

Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 (FS60) 'Sinfonia espansiva'

Maskarade Overture

Aladdin Suite, Op. 34

San Francisco Symphony

Herbert Blomstedt

Decca - Double Decca - 4609852

(CD - 2 discs)

$16.99

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Nielsen:

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7 (FS16)

Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments'

Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 (FS60) 'Sinfonia espansiva'

Symphony No. 6, (FS116) 'Sinfonia semplice'

London Symphony Orchestra, Ole Schmidt

Building a Library

Budget Choice - March 2002

Regis - RRC2046

(CD - 2 discs)

$11.49

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Nielsen - The Symphonies Volume 2

Nielsen:

Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 (FS60) 'Sinfonia espansiva'

Inger Dam-Jensen & Poul Elming

Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 (FS29) 'The Four temperaments'

Danish National Symphony Orchestra / DR, Michael Schønwandt

The Six Symphonies, which become increasingly adventurous as the cycle progresses, are essentially tonal, emotionally direct works, which alternate long lines of melody with passages of blazing energy. The idea of writing a symphony based on the Four Temperaments – The Choleric, The Sanguine, The Melancholic and The Phlegmatic, came to Nielsen when he saw a primitive peasant painting in a village inn. The title of the Third Symphony, Sinfonia espansiva, an afterthought, has been explained as an expansion of the scope of the mind and of the life that comes with it.

“This is the welcome completion of what now ranks, in my judgment, as the best set of the Nielsen symphonies yet accomplished in the recording medium.” Fanfare on the original Dacapo releases