Biography

Nielsen maintained the reputation of a musical outsider during his lifetime, both in his own country and internationally. It was only later that his works firmly entered the international repertoire, accelerating in popularity from the 1960s through Leonard Bernstein and others.

In Denmark, his opera Maskarade and many of his songs have become an integral part of the national heritage.

Nielsen is especially noted for his six symphonies, his Wind Quintet and his concertos for violin, flute and clarinet.

Nielsen did not record any of his works. However, three younger contemporary conductors who had worked with him, Thomas Jensen, Launy Grøndahl, and Erik Tuxen, did record his symphonies and other orchestral works with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra between 1946 and 1952.

For many years, he appeared on the Danish hundred-kroner banknote. His image was selected in recognition of his contribution to Danish music compositions such as his opera Maskarade, his Espansiva symphony and his many songs including "Danmark, nu blunder den lyse nat".