PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, LONDON – NOVEMBER 2016
Nielsen Symphony No. 2 “The Four Temperaments”
Absolute precision, full-bodied sound, a lethal punch — this sterling performance rejoiced in them all, right from the turbulent opening bars … Sharpness of character was the special glory of Järvi’s tour around the temperaments. The Phlegmatic movement hovered in his hands with delicious sluggishness. Impetuous anger raced through the Choleric opening allegro, the mirror of the introspective Melancholic adagio. Shoulder movements reached their height in the Sanguine finale’s reckless high spirits, punctured towards the end with slow and sad reminiscences, beautifully engineered.
Geoff Brown, The Times 15 November 2016
The latest concert in the Discover Carl Nielsen series curated by Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra captivated the ear with music that was strikingly original, magisterial and downright quirky … With Nielsen as good as this I look forward to the next instalment of the Discover Carl Nielsen series.
David Truslove, Backtrack.com, 16 November 2016
Paavo Järvi’s great appreciation of Nielsen was manifest in ‘The Four Temperaments’ …
[Anthony Hodgson, Classicalsource.com, 10 November 2016
Järvi’s expressive approach to the melancholy Andantino was a masterpiece of eloquent phrasing … and this contemplative reading of so serious a movement made a suitable contrast with the wild Finale …