In honour of 100 years since its premiere, the Academy Soloists Ensemble present Nielsen’s Symphony No. 6 alongside Commotio, which was originally composed for solo organ. Both pieces have been specially arranged for the ensemble by the Academy’s Oliver Knussen Chair of Composition, Hans Abrahamsen.
This latest recording joins an extensive and distinguished catalogue of commercial recordings by the Academy. For nearly 30 years, recording has been an intrinsic part of Academy life, and our discography comprises 52 records which chart the trajectory of many students who are now eminent musical figures. Previous projects have been helmed by Sir Colin Davis, Sir Charles Mackerras, Laurence Cummings, Trevor Pinnock, Barbara Hannigan and Oliver Knussen and alongside other conservatoires, most notably two with The Juilliard School.
For this exploration of Nielsen’s late works, young Academy musicians worked alongside Ryan Wigglesworth, who is our Richard Rodney Bennett Professor of Music. He said: ‘It’s pretty remarkable for students to be able to inhabit these two very technically difficult and challenging scores. They perform with such character and colour and I’m full of admiration for all of the players.’
Academy Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said: ‘In its centennial year, this recording of Nielsen’s sixth symphony reminds us why it is one of the most extraordinary 20th century pieces of its kind. Hans Abrahamsen’s arrangement of Commotio almost presents us with a seventh symphony and gives us a chance to appreciate a late masterpiece in the way we do Sibelius’s Tapiola. This is a stunning addition to a treasure trove of our recordings since 1996, an archive of which we are incredibly proud.’
The Academy’s latest recording is released on Linn Records today. Ryan Wigglesworth also returns to work alongside the Academy’s Soloist Ensemble in the autumn term for a performance at Wigmore Hall on Sunday 26 October. The programme features a reimagining of Bruckner’s Symphony No 2 by the late Anthony Payne.
Stream the Academy's Nielsen recording.
