Nielsen: Flute Concerto; Clarinet Concerto; Aladdin Suite

Under Paavo Järvi, the Philharmonia performs three characteristically fiery works by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen: the Flute and Clarinet Concertos, and the Aladdin Suite.

The concerto solo parts are performed by two of our principal players – flautist Samuel Coles and clarinettist Mark van de Wiel – and recorded live at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Following the success of Nielsen’s Wind Quintet in 1922, Nielsen set out to write a concerto for each member and instrument of the quintet, starting with the flute. Two years later, Nielsen started work on the second of his concertos for wind, this time letting the clarinet take centre stage. The Clarinet Concerto was sure to ruffle feathers: following an early private run-through it was described as ‘music from another planet’.