Album

Of the countless composers whose works are unjustifiably underplayed, Carl Nielsen certainly deserves to be somewhere near the top of that list. Thanks to Dacapo records, listeners are being given an opportunity to be exposed to Nielsen's chamber music output. This second volume features the two sonatas for violin and piano and Nielsen's two works for solo violin. The sonatas in particular were met with harsh criticism during Nielsen's time for his rather abrupt and radical key changes, which must have been difficult to digest for audiences at the time. Nowadays, a change from A major to F minor hardly seems shocking; on the contrary, the frequent changes in color keep listeners' interest up throughout the sonatas. Violinist Jon Gjesme and pianist Jens Elvekjær perform the two sonatas, generally to great satisfaction. The interplay and balance between the two musicians is quite enjoyable. Gjesme's sound is almost always pleasing...almost. When the technical demands of the works become exceptionally high, however, Gjesme seems to struggle with maintaining the same sweet, warm sound quality he produces in less technically demanding passages. The two works for solo violin are performed by Tue Lautrup. Despite the extreme technical demands of these works, Lautrup is able to deliver a completely even, smooth performance, tossing off even the most difficult of passages with apparent ease while still producing a pleasing sound quality. Listeners still unfamiliar with any of Nielsen's works would do well to choose this CD as a springboard into his vast compositional output.

© Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide

CD 1
Carl Nielsen Composer Violin Sonata in A, FS20, Op.9 Work 21:17 Jens Elvekjær Piano, Jon Gjesme Violin
1	1.Allegro glorioso	8:36			$1.49
2	2.Andante	7:14			$1.49
3	3.Allegro piacevole é giovanile	5:27			$0.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Violin Sonata No.2 in G-, FS64, Op.35 Work 20:39 Jens Elvekjær Piano, Jon Gjesme Violin
4	1.Allegro con tiepidezza	7:53			$1.49
5	2.Molto adagio	8:27			$1.49
6	3.Allegro piacevole	4:19			$0.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Praeludium og Tema med Variationer, for violin, FS104, Op.48 Work 15:24 Tue Lautrup Violin
7	1.Prelude: Poco adagio e con fantasia	4:34			$0.99
8	2.Thema: Andante	1:00			$0.99
9	3.Variation I: Più mosso	0:52			$0.99
10	4.Variation II: Andantino quasi Allegretto	1:41			$0.99
11	5.Variation III: Andante espressivo	1:43			$0.99
12	6.Variation IV: Poco allegro, molto ritmico	0:56			$0.99
13	7.Variation V: Più mosso	0:55			$0.99
14	8.Variation VI: Tempo giusto	1:22			$0.99
15	9.Variation VII: Presto	2:21			$0.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Praeludium og Tema med Variationer, for violin, FS104, Op.48...10.Variation VIII: Poco adagio. Tempo di thema Work 2:47 Tue Lautrup Violin
16	10a.Poco adagio	1:26			$0.99
17	10b.Tempo di thema	1:21			$0.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Preludio e presto, for violin solo, FS128, Op.52 Work 11:43 Tue Lautrup Violin
18	1.Preludio: Con fantasia	8:00			$1.49
19	2.Presto	3:43			$0.99