Carl Nielsen: Aladdin (Chandos Classics Audio CD)

Gennady Rozhdestvensky conducts the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chamber choir in the incidental music composed by Carl Nielsen in 1918-1919 for a play at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen based on the story of Aladdin. Full of exotic delights, the rich and colourful score is reminiscent at times of Prince Igor and Scheherazade, but still very much Nielsen’s own.

This was the first recording of the complete score, on its original release. Musical Times commented at the time “the special value of such a recording is enhanced by the quality of the performance, for the exotic character is well suited to Rozdhestvensky’s larger-than-life musical personality.” The Telegraph commented, “Nielsen at his symphonic best… you will be thrilled and captivated throughout.”

This terrific performance is now rightly reissued amongst the ‘Classic’ performances on Chandos.