So who made you love the Sibelius symphonies?

[not edward]

Never been a great lover of 1 and 2, while 3, 4 and 7 came very naturally to me.

SFSO/Blomstedt definitely unlocked 5 for me (the pacing of the first movement is incredible to my ears).
Lahti/Vanska unlocked 6, though I probably prefer Blomstedt here too these days.

[jochanaan]

My ears were opened to Sibelius when I first played Finlandia in an orchestra at age 18.  (Nebraska All-State Fine Arts Camp in Lincoln, for those interested.)  After that it was just a matter of finding recordings.  Davis and Berglund were among my early favorites.  Since that early experience I've also played Symphony #2 and Pohjola's Daughter, and repeated Finlandia a time or two.

My main complaint with the Davis/BSO cycle (I have 1,2,5, and 7 in my files) is that you can't hear everything.  Of course there's that splendid Philips recorded sound, and the Boston Symphony sounds beautiful--but there are things in the scores that just don't come through on that set of recordings.  For example, near the end of #7 there is a horn run in 32nd notes (at the prevailing Adagio tempo), fff, that's simply lost in the recording; at that range and volume level, the horns should raise the roof, but they're just not there! And there are other similarly unclear spots.

[Madiel]

The only set I've got is Ashkenazy / the Philharmonia Orchestra. Please don't all tell me it's horrible... even without having listened to it for a long while, I get goosebumps thinking about the first movement of the 3rd, and a particular moment in the 7th...

[Bogey]

Oh thanks for pointing this out Bill! I would have considered Sibelius a lost cause indeed without the invaluable thread here on GMG, including contributions by (I know I won't remember everybody) David Ross, M forever, Mark A. Owen, Elgarian, Johan (Jezetha), Karl Henning, Corey, Benji, Scarpia... also a non-GMGer, the Flying Inkpot blogger.

Right, Brian.   As for line-ups, Maazel and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

[Florestan]

Sibelius himself, no doubt. 

[Daverz]

Sibelius himself, no doubt. 

Both drunk at the time, no doubt.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The only set I've got is Ashkenazy / the Philharmonia Orchestra. Please don't all tell me it's horrible...

I for one think it's good. I think it's generally well-regarded.

[kyjo]

To answer the question which is the thread title: Sibelius did.

[xochitl]

the 1st with ashkenazy/PO
the 2nd with szell/RCO
the 3rd with blomstedt/SFSO
the 4th and 5th with sakari/iceland
the 6th refuses to crack for me
the 7th with bernstein/NYPO

[kyjo]

the 6th refuses to crack for me

The Sixth is, in many ways, Sibelius' most enigmatic symphony and many listeners, understandably, fail to warm to it. It is often referred to as Sibelius' "pastoral" symphony in its pellucid, restrained outlook, but there are noticeable dark undercurrents that make the work all the more compelling. Give it some more time!

[Mirror Image]

The Sixth is, in many ways, Sibelius' most enigmatic symphony and many listeners, understandably, fail to warm to it. It is often referred to as Sibelius' "pastoral" symphony in its pellucid, restrained outlook, but there are noticeable dark undercurrents that make the work all the more compelling. Give it some more time!

Yes and, next to the 4th, it's my favorite Sibelius symphony. Vanska and Karajan are safe bets here.

[kyjo]

Yes and, next to the 4th, it's my favorite Sibelius symphony. Vanska and Karajan are safe bets here.

I have a hell of a hard time making up my mind about what my favorite Sibelius symphonies are! Some days, I prefer the outgoing romanticism of nos. 1, 2 and 5, and others I'll prefer the "bardic power" of nos. 4 and 7 or the lighter, airier textures of nos. 3 and 6. They're all so fantastic!

[Mirror Image]

I have a hell of a hard time making up my mind about what my favorite Sibelius symphonies are! Some days, I prefer the outgoing romanticism of nos. 1, 2 and 5, and others I'll prefer the "bardic power" of nos. 4 and 7 or the lighter, airier textures of nos. 3 and 6. They're all so fantastic!

I wish I was more optimistic about Symphonies 1-3, but I'm not. Give me 4-7 any day of the week.

[kyjo]

I wish I was more optimistic about Symphonies 1-3, but I'm not. Give me 4-7 any day of the week.

No. 1 is probably my least favorite of the cycle but it's an early work all the same, no. 2 is a sentimental favorite and a work I find gloriously uplifting (as with much of Sibelius' music), and no. 3 is a work whose "breeziness" I find quite refreshing.

[Peregrine]

Symphonies 1 and 2 I don't care for greatly, but have always liked the Beecham live second symphony and the live Szell is also a good choice.

3 - Davis/BSO
4 - Maazel/VPO
5 - I've always had a soft spot for the Rattle/Philharmonia. Barbirolli is good too
6 - Karajan/BPO and Davis/BSO again
7 - lots of favourites here: Mravinsky/LPO, Ormandy/PO, Barbirolli/Halle, Berglund/BSO ....

Berglund I like for a cycle, but particularly his first cycle with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. There is a lot of good Sibelius out there ...

[Madiel]

The first movement of Symphony No.3 is for me one of the most sublimely perfect constructions in existence.

Whereas the last movement tends to puzzle me a bit.

[jochanaan]

The only set I've got is Ashkenazy / the Philharmonia Orchestra. Please don't all tell me it's horrible... even without having listened to it for a long while, I get goosebumps thinking about the first movement of the 3rd, and a particular moment in the 7th...

I'm familiar with 3 and 6 from that set.  Lovely playing, fine interpretation.

[kyjo]

The first movement of Symphony No.3 is for me one of the most sublimely perfect constructions in existence.

Yes, the brass chorale near the end is especially wonderful!