Carl Nielsen's contribution to orchestral music, like that of his great contemporary Sibelius, was completely original. He once imagined that music had a voice, and that it spoke in these terms: 'I live tenfold more intensely than any living thing, and die a thousandfold deeper. I love the vast surface of silence; and it is my chief delight to break it.' The great Danish composer's accessible and invigorating symphonies have fascinated Sir Mark Elder during his time with the Hallé; their performances of Nielsen have been widely acclaimed at the BBC Proms, in Vienna's Musikverein, here in Manchester and on CD.

The four concerts will be performed on the following dates:

Thursday 8 January 2009, 7.30pm CBSO / Sakari Oramo includes Nielsen Symphony No.4 (part of the Hallé Thursday Series) For full listings, click here.	Thursday 15 January 2009, 7.30pm The Hallé / Sir Mark Elder includes Nielsen Symphony No.1 and No.5 (part of the Hallé Thursday Series)  For full listings, click here.
Sunday 11 January 2009, 3pm CBSO / Sakari Oramo includes Nielsen Symphony No.2 and No.6 (part of the Hallé Collection) For full listings, click here.	Thursday 29 January 2009, 7.30pm The Hallé / Sir Mark Elder includes Nielsen Symphony No.3 (part of the Hallé Thursday Series) For full listings, click here.

These four concerts offer a rare chance to enjoy all six of Nielsen's symphonies in a cycle shared with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo, the conductor who has led it with distinction for the last ten years.

You can purchase all four Nielsen: Inextinguishable concerts together at a saving of 15%. To do so, please contact the box office on 0161 907 9000.

Thursday Series subscribers may add the additional Nielsen concert to their fixed subscription and save 30%.

Collection subscribers may add the additonal Nielsen concerts to their fixed subscription and save 20% on all concerts. [Collection subscribers save 15% on the six concert subscription.]