06/04/2011
Most people who have bought classical CDs in Copenhagen have at some
point met Birger Simonsen. He has managed specialized classical departments in
the big chain stores and for a period had his own classical CD shop. Now he is
ensconced behind the counter in Copenhagen's new Danacord shop, which is
Scandinavia's biggest specialized classical music shop today.
Birger
Simonsen is a modest man who doesn't want his face shown in cyberspace. He
would rather show his long CD shelves in the newly furnished shop which is
bursting with classical music. As a passionate fan and purveyor of classical
music, though, Birger is always willing to give CD recordings a few
well-chosen words on their way. Here you can see his recommendations from the
Dacapo catalogue.
Per Nørgård: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 7
"
Per Nørgård is undoubtedly Denmark's greatest living composer. Here you
can thrill to his Seventh Symphony - and I mean thrill, for rarely has its like been heard in recent times. His
Third Symphony is pure beauty. Drop you inhibitions - listen to Nørgård!"
Carl Nielsen: Orchestral Music
"
Carl Nielsen's orchestral music with Thomas Dalsgaard and the Danish
National Symphony Orchestra is in class by itself. An ebulliently energetic
recording we have sold many of over the years... and the sound, it's
first-class! Here you'll find all the small Nielsen orchestral works you may be
missing."
Oboe and Piano
"Max Artved and Per Salo are two Danish supermusicians. Everything they
touch turns into magic - like this lovely CD. I was at a concert in 1996 where
they were to play the works from this CD. Per Nørgård came and said that his
old mentor Vagn Holmboe had passed away the very same day. The audience stood
and held two minutes' silence. That made a powerful impression on me, and this
CD has been among my favourites ever since. Enjoy music by Carl Nielsen, Niels
Viggo Bentzon, Otto Mortensen, Vagn Holmboe & Per Nørgård!"
Visit the Danacord CD shop online