Carl Nielsen
Violin Concerto and Songs
Rued Langgaard
String Quartet No. 3

Five Songs (12:20)  
Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
Sangbag Ploven 
Dengang Døden var i vente
I aften
Irmelin Rose
Min Pige er saa lys som Rav
Lars Thodberg Bertelsen, baritone
Frode Stengaard, piano

String Quartet No. 3  (14:42)   
Rued Langgaard (1893-1952)
Poco allegro rapinsoso
Presto scherzo artifizioso
Tranquillo
The Miró String Quartet
Daniel Ching, violin 1   Sandy Yamamoto, violin 2
John Largess, viola        Joshua Gindele, violoncello

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 33  (34:28)   
Carl Nielsen
Praeludium, Largo;  Allegro cavalleresco 
Poco adagio; Rondo, Allegretto scherzando
Saeka Matsuyama, violin
The Odense Symphony Orchestra
Jan Wagner, conductor
        
BRIDGE 9100

In 1999, the government of Denmark sponsored a festival of Danish arts in New York City. The culminating event of this festival was the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, which included attendance by Her Majesty, Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark. This disc features Silver Medalist Saeka Matsuyama’s electrifying competition performance of Carl Nielsen’s Violin Concerto, accompanied by Denmark’s Odense Symphony Orchestra. Matsuyama’s performance of the Nielsen Concerto also earned the 18-year old violinist the Odense Symphony Orchestra’s Special Prize.

Opening this celebratory disc is a stunning performance by the Miro String Quartet of Rued Langgaard’s remarkable String Quartet No. 3. Considered to be among Langgaard;s finest compositions, the Miro Quartet gives a reading that had American and Danish critics reaching for superlatives.

Rounding out this CD is a selection of songs by Carl Nielsen. Sung by the Danish baritone, Lars Thodberg Bertelsen, this group features some of Nielsen’s most popular songs, including Irmelin Rose.