Carl Nielsen - Clarinet Concerto; Helios; Symphony No. 5 (Edward Gardner)

Information

Composer: Carl Nielsen

• Helios, Op. 17, FS 32
• Clarinet Concerto, Op. 57, FS 129
• Symphony No. 5, Op. 50, FS 97

Alessandro Carbonare, clarinet

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Chandos

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Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic continue their acclaimed Nielsen cycle with a recording of Symphony No. 5, paired with the Helios Overture and the Clarinet Concerto featuring Alessandro Carbonare. Written in 1903 during a stay in Greece, Helios vividly depicts the sun’s arc over the Aegean. The 1928 Clarinet Concerto, dedicated to Aage Oxenvad, unfolds in a single, four-part movement, blending lyricism with dramatic contrasts. Composed between 1920–22, Symphony No. 5—unique in its two-movement structure—explores the struggle between light and dark, good and evil. Often viewed as a “war symphony,” it reflects Nielsen’s awareness of a world changed by conflict.

Edward Gardner (b. 1974) is a distinguished English conductor known for his versatility and leadership across opera and symphonic repertoire. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music, he launched his career as a choral conductor and repetiteur before becoming music director of Glyndebourne on Tour (2004–07). He later served as music director of English National Opera (2007–15) and principal guest conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (2010–16). Since 2013, he has been principal guest conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic, and in 2021 he became principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He will assume the role of music director at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in 2024.

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