NY Philharmonic performing Nielsen

I attended the NY Philharmonic Open Rehearsal this Wednesday morning ($18) which featured Nielsen's Concerto for Flute (Robert Langevin) & Orchestra & Concerto for Violin (Nikolaj Znaider) & Orchestra.  This season the Philharmonic is paying tribute to the Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1856-1931) by performing 6 of his symphonies.  Recognized throughout Scandinavia, conductor Gilbert believes Nielsen is one of the great contemporary composers whose compositions should garner more attention in the United States.  The concertos have a Brahmsian harmony.  I especially enjoyed the romantic sounds of the violin concerto.  Nielsen's works are being performed for the first time by the Philharmonic and it is exciting to listen to such rich music and gain an appreciation for a composer whose works are highly regarded in Scandinavia & Europe.  I urge you to attend a performance by our orchestra of Nielsen's works this season.  He was a composer I was not famliar with myself.  Tchaikovsky's Symphony #2 was also performed with an instrumentation of cymbals, tuba, bassoons, oboes, horns and bass drum.