Sibelius Symphony No.2 - Great Recordings

[TheGSMoeller]

I'm very excited for my first ASO concert of the season in October, they are performing Sibelius' Symphony No.2 and this will be my first time seeing this grand piece live.
I am continuing my several year-long exploration of the symphonies of Sibelius and would like to focus on No.2 for a while. I would love to begin a discussion with users on both the piece and a their top choice(s) for recordings and why they feel so strongly about this recording.

I am also interested in investing in several more recordings, and would like to get ones that contrast well with each other.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and recs, my friends. 

[bhodges]

This recording is pretty special. Despite liking Sibelius, I'm not the hugest fan of the Second, perhaps because it seems to be played so often at the expense of his other symphonies. So when a couple of Cleveland Orchestra fans gave me this (she's a pianist, he's a musicologist) I was a little skeptical.

Szell died just a few months after this tour, and apparently he knew he was going and the orchestra knew it also; the performance is commensurately emotional.

[asin]B001FOSKIE[/asin]

--Bruce

[TheGSMoeller]

This recording is pretty special. Despite liking Sibelius, I'm not the hugest fan of the Second, perhaps because it seems to be played so often at the expense of his other symphonies. So when a couple of Cleveland Orchestra fans gave me this (she's a pianist, he's a musicologist) I was a little skeptical.

Szell died just a few months after this tour, and apparently he knew he was going and the orchestra knew it also; the performance is commensurately emotional.

[asin]B001FOSKIE[/asin]

--Bruce

Thanks for the first response, Bruce.
This sounds like a special occasion for sure, and Cleveland/Szell have certainly has made some incredible recordings.

[Brian]

Although I enjoy the Barbirolli performance on Testament an awful lot, I've never found a recording I like. Everyone seems to prefer the first movement soggy and bloated; if there's a sharp-edged recording it has yet to reach my ears. The result is I tend to listen to whichever one has the most exciting finale - or just opt for the Third Symphony instead.

[Cato]

I just read a review of a Toscanini BBC set, which contains the Sibelius Second:

Even in music less associated with him, Toscanini manages to persuade—in his fashion. A live performance of Elgar's "Enigma" Variations from 1935 proves nimble and noble and is rightly capped by a torrent of applause. For Sibelius's Second Symphony (live, 1938), Toscanini eschews a cool Nordic approach for a bracing Italian one, complete with blazing brasses.

See:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324619504579030741903019418.html?KEYWORDS=Toscanini

[mc ukrneal]

Thanks for the first response, Bruce.
This sounds like a special occasion for sure, and Cleveland/Szell have certainly has made some incredible recordings.

You can get a feel for it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL5ys4qnIy0. It looks like this is an LP transfer, so sound on the CD should be better. It's quite intense.

[HIPster]

I had heard positive reviews of the following recording and picked it up a few months ago.  My first Sibelius purchase, as it were:

[asin]B006UTDETE[/asin]

I've come to enjoy this disc and can recommend it, especially for the SACD sound (sort of a mid-rear hall recording perspective).

Have fun at the concert and please post a review here after the fact!

[vandermolen]

I like the Bernstein DGG version, the Toscanini and the Beecham on BBC Legends. The Szell live version looks very interesting too.

[listener]

Beecham, Anthony Collins and Okku Kamu are the preferred ones in my collection.

[elotito]

I recently picked Maazel & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and I really like it.
I have no idea what anyone else thinks about it though.

[Daverz]

Ormandy/CBS and Barbirolli/RPO.

[relm1]

My favorite is Ormandy/Philadelphia orchestra.  Great internal tension and control.

[Sean]

Although I enjoy the Barbirolli performance on Testament an awful lot, I've never found a recording I like. Everyone seems to prefer the first movement soggy and bloated; if there's a sharp-edged recording it has yet to reach my ears. The result is I tend to listen to whichever one has the most exciting finale - or just opt for the Third Symphony instead.

Yes.

You need the Monteux recording.

Forget the rest.

Short review there but don't have much time for the forum these days. Best, Sean

[Cato]

Although I enjoy the Barbirolli performance on Testament an awful lot, I've never found a recording I like. Everyone seems to prefer the first movement soggy and bloated; if there's a sharp-edged recording it has yet to reach my ears. The result is I tend to listen to whichever one has the most exciting finale - or just opt for the Third Symphony instead.

The Toscanini performance on the BBC recording should be for you!

[Sergeant Rock]

You need the Monteux recording.

Brian wants a really fast first movement (among other attributes in his quest for the perfect Sibelius 2). I once suggested Szell (9:17) but even that didn't satisfy him. Monteux/LSO is 10:09. I don't think that's going to make the grade either.

The Toscanini performance on the BBC recording should be for you!

Toscanini/BBC (8:49), But the sound isn't first class.

Sarge

[Parsifal]

Vanska/Lahti is a fine one.  Unlike the other symphonies in the cycle which give a reserved, mysterious impression, this one is quite extroverted.

Szell/Concertgebouw is another fine one.

Finally, there is the Bernstein/Vienna Philharmonic, notable for the absurdly slow second movement.  Like a train wreck in slow motion, you can't take you eyes off of it.

[Brahmsian]

Okku Kamu

+1

[Sergeant Rock]

I am also interested in investing in several more recordings, and would like to get ones that contrast well with each other.

Szell/Cleveland and Bernstein/Vienna are the alpha and omega of Sibelius 2 interpretations. Start there 

Sarge

[mc ukrneal]

This recording is pretty special. Despite liking Sibelius, I'm not the hugest fan of the Second, perhaps because it seems to be played so often at the expense of his other symphonies. So when a couple of Cleveland Orchestra fans gave me this (she's a pianist, he's a musicologist) I was a little skeptical.

Szell died just a few months after this tour, and apparently he knew he was going and the orchestra knew it also; the performance is commensurately emotional.

Szell/Cleveland and Bernstein/Vienna are the alpha and omega of Sibelius 2 interpretations. Start there 

Sarge

I listened to the Szell last night on youtube and was floored. It has taken me longer to enjoy Sibelius as much as other composers, but this version was something else. It certainly kept my attention the whole time. Great recommendation!!

[TheGSMoeller]

Szell/Cleveland and Bernstein/Vienna are the alpha and omega of Sibelius 2 interpretations. Start there 

Sarge

Is the live version from Japan the only recording available from Cleveland/Szell?

And I did listen to Bernstein's the other day on Spotify, marvelous in my book, his later-in-life approach similar to his Dvorak 9 with Israel Phil works here I believe.