The Danish composer Carl Nielsen stands at the helm of Scandinavian music. A master symphonist, he's widely regarded as one of the most important composers of his generation. But at the end of the nineteenth century, Nielsen's adventurous and free spirited outlook was regarded with some suspicion. In some quarters his music was deemed to be cool and academic, until his Third Symphony marked a turning point in his career, garnering praise from Nielsen's advocates and opponents alike.

Today Donald Macleod explores the reasons behind some of these differing opinions. Show less