Edward Gardner wrapped up his nine-year role as the principal conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic in July 2024, yet their collaborative recordings continue to thrive. This latest release is the third installment in Gardner’s Nielsen series with the orchestra,following previous albums that highlighted nielsen’s Third and Fourth Symphonies. In keeping with tradition, this album pairs a symphonic piece with one of Nielsen’s concertos; it features the Fifth Symphony from 1922 alongside his Clarinet Concerto composed six years later.

Exceptional Performances Under Gardner’s Leadership

The execution of both compositions, along with the early Helios Overture, is masterfully delivered by the Bergen musicians under Gardner’s skilled baton, who adeptly navigates through the complex textures of the symphony with extraordinary finesse. However, there could be a case made for introducing a touch more spontaneity towards the conclusion of the opening movement where a snare-drum player disrupts orchestral unity—an added wildness could have considerably heightened that moment’s impact while enhancing emotional release into what follows in the second movement.

A Spotlight on Alessandro Carbonare’s performance

This recording showcases Alessandro Carbonare as soloist in Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto—a work intended to complete a series of concertos for each member of Copenhagen’s Wind Quintet alongside an earlier flute concerto completed by nielsen prior to his death. The concerto also prominently features snare drum which acts as a counterbalance to some challenging passages written for solo clarinet—Carbonare approaches these demanding sections with remarkable skill and elegance; while there may be more exuberant interpretations available on record than this one, few can rival its clarity and sophistication.

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