Carl August Nielsen

III. 7 June 1907: Nielsen reports about family trouble and his wife’s severe illness. The is grateful that Harder visited Schillings, but is uncertain which work to show to Schillings. His own suggestions are “Maskerade” [opera, 1904–06] and “Søvnen” [choral work, 1903–04]. IV. 2 December 1907: Nielsen thanks Harder for trying to make his work known in Germany, although he is pessimistic because he is convinced that the Germans will consider his music too harsh, too tedious, and too uninteresting. Nielsen requests Schilling’s address so that he can send him his “Symphonic Suite” and “Saul og David” (1898–1901). V. N. p. o. d.: Undated letter draft, possibly intended for translation, to Max von Schillings and refers to the “youthful and genial” string quartet sent by Schillings and to his beautiful songs, which Nielsen has already studied. He is enthusiastic about Schillings’s musical tragedy “Moloch” (completed in 1906), beside which all other works pale. He praises its structure, severity and earnestness. He adds that he hopes the Copenhagen audience will be able to enjoy this work; he has noticed that German musical drama has not ended with Richard Wagner. – Partly published in “Carl Nielsens Breve”, Gylderdal, 1954. – Includes: studio photograph of Nielsen (half-length portrait in semi-profile, facing left, 10.5 x 16.5 cm. By Fred Riise, Copenhagen, c. 1909. – Nielsen wrote his first symphony in 1892. In 1902, Nielsen made his debut as a conductor at the premiere of his opera “Saul and David”. The same year saw the prodcution of his second symphony, “The Four Temperaments”. In 1905 Nielsen resigned as a violinist, but kept working at the Royal Theater as a conductor from 1906 to 1914. His comic opera “Maskerade” premiered in 1906. However, Nielsen was not to find recognition abroad until 1912, the year of his violin concerto and his third symphony, “Sinfonia espansiva”, praised for its genius and explosive power (cf. MGG IX, 1516)..