Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions

Nordby Church, Fanø. Thursday 13th August 2026 at 7.30 pm

Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions

SINGLE TICKETS

All-inclusive Festival Ticket KR. 700,-

Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions

André Caplet (1878–1925): Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano
I. Allegro moderato
II. Scherzo
III. Adagio
IV. Finale

Ludolf Nielsen (1876–1939): String Quartet No. 2, Op. 5
I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco

Kerstin Thiele, flute · David Daniel Dinu, oboe · Ron Chen-Zion, clarinet · Sofia Obando, bassoon  · Valdemar Wenzel Most, piano · Sini Simonen, violin · Juliette Roos, violin · Michel Camille, viola · Pau Codina, cello 

The thirteenth concert of Fanø Festival 2026 explores two remarkable voices of European chamber music. Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions brings together the richly expressive late-Romantic world of Danish composer Ludolf Nielsen and the refined, colouristic soundscape of French composer André Caplet. Performed by an outstanding international ensemble, the programme reveals two contrasting yet complementary musical perspectives from the turn of the twentieth century.

The evening opens with Ludolf Nielsen’s String Quartet No. 2, Op. 5, a work that demonstrates why Nielsen was once regarded as one of Denmark’s most promising symphonic composers. Written in a richly expressive late-Romantic style, the quartet combines Nordic lyricism with impressive structural ambition and emotional depth. Throughout the work, expansive melodies and dramatic contrasts reveal a composer deeply engaged with the Austro-German Romantic tradition while searching for a distinctive Nordic voice of his own.

Although Nielsen enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime, his music later fell into relative obscurity. Today, audiences are increasingly rediscovering the remarkable craftsmanship and individuality of his works. The Second String Quartet stands among his finest chamber compositions and offers a fascinating glimpse into a chapter of Danish musical history that deserves renewed attention.

The programme then turns to André Caplet’s Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano, a masterpiece of French chamber music distinguished by its refinement, colour, and imagination. Caplet was one of the most gifted French composers of his generation and is perhaps best known for his close friendship and artistic collaboration with Claude Debussy. His music reflects many of the qualities associated with French musical impressionism: luminous textures, delicate instrumental colours, and an extraordinary sensitivity to atmosphere.

At the heart of Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions lies the contrast between two distinct musical worlds. Nielsen’s quartet emerges from the grand Romantic tradition of Northern Europe, with its broad melodies, dramatic architecture, and emotional intensity. Caplet’s Quintet inhabits a more translucent and colouristic universe, where subtle shifts of timbre and atmosphere become central expressive elements. Together, the works reveal the extraordinary diversity of European chamber music during a period of profound artistic change.

Both composers sought new ways of combining tradition with innovation. While Nielsen developed a distinctive Scandinavian voice rooted in Romantic expression, Caplet explored new possibilities of colour and texture within the French tradition. Their works demonstrate how composers across Europe responded differently to the same artistic currents, creating music that remains fresh, distinctive, and deeply rewarding. The title Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions reflects this fascinating dialogue between two composers separated by geography yet united by artistic imagination.

Presented in the intimate surroundings of Nordby Church on Fanø, Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience two exceptional chamber music masterpieces side by side. Through the richness of Nielsen’s late-Romantic imagination and the elegance of Caplet’s French sound world, the concert provides an unforgettable journey through contrasting musical cultures and artistic ideals.

For lovers of chamber music, the meeting of Nielsen’s Nordic and Caplet’s French Visions promises an evening of discovery, beauty, and extraordinary musicianship, performed by some of Europe’s finest artists.

Venue: Nordby Church, Fanø