Sibelius Symphonies

[Steve]

I just wanted to reiterate my thanks for the comments received for my Shostakovich symphony set post. I ended up purchasing both sets! (Just couldn't decide!). Now I'm looking into the complete symphonies of Sibelius. Any thoughts on these sets?

Sir Colin Davis and the Boston Symphony Orchestra

http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Complete-Symphonies-1-Jean/dp/B0000041BV/ref=sr_1_4/103-7075485-2503833?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176440955&sr=1-4

Davis, again, with the LSO

http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Symphonies-Finlandia-Kullervo-etc/dp/B00011KOF4/ref=sr_1_5/103-7075485-2503833?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176441025&sr=1-5

Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra

http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Complete-Symphonies-Jean/dp/B00005Q450/ref=sr_1_8/103-7075485-2503833?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176441058&sr=1-8

Any other reccs are welcome. Of course I'm not committed to a box set, so individual perormances would be acceptable too.

[nimrod79]

I have yet to hear Vanska's set, but I can strongly recommend Davis' cycle with the BSO.  They're better than either of his LSO remakes, especially the first, which is very lifeless.  Beautifully played with a very deep, rich, and warm orchestral sound throughout.  The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th are all really superb.  Most Sibelius performances (including Davis' second set) often use a very bright orchestral sound, especially with the brasses.  Here, however, he maintains the energy with the BSO using a much darker palette that is just as vibrant and riveting without becoming too harsh or shrill.

[Florestan]

I have this one

http://www.amazon.com/Jean-Sibelius-Symphonies-Gothenburg-Orchestra/dp/B0000016JY/ref=sr_1_7/104-1363381-9870301?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176453031&sr=1-7

and I'm perfectly happy with it. Crystal clear sound, one of the best Sibelian orchestras in the world and a top-notch conductor. Amazing!

[david johnson]

the cheap set on brilliant classics is really good.  it's my box set.

dj

[Harry]

I have this one

http://www.amazon.com/Jean-Sibelius-Symphonies-Gothenburg-Orchestra/dp/B0000016JY/ref=sr_1_7/104-1363381-9870301?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176453031&sr=1-7

and I'm perfectly happy with it. Crystal clear sound, one of the best Sibelian orchestras in the world and a top-notch conductor. Amazing!

Agreed!

[Harry]

the cheap set on brilliant classics is really good.  it's my box set.

dj

You mean the set with Sanderling at the helm?
Well yes I have that set too, and its quite different from say Jarvi's approach, but equally rewarding!

[Harry]

I have most of the Vanska set too, and it could not have been more different from both Jarvi, on the same label, and the Sanderling I have. Vanska has the best sonics though, but Jarvi is for me the most structured and the deepest probing conductor into the mind of Sibelius I ever heard.

[Grazioso]

Another option: Overall, good to excellent, if rather sober and straight-faced in the symphonies. Includes Kullervo and many of the major orchestral and choral pieces, including a few rarely recorded but excellent pieces like Tulen Synty (The Origin of Fire).

[Bogey]

Or:

[david johnson]

You mean the set with Sanderling at the helm?
Well yes I have that set too, and its quite different from say Jarvi's approach, but equally rewarding!

yes, i do.  i also have the watanabe/japan phil. set on lp. it is a fun listen.

dj

[71 dB]

I don't listen to Sibelius often but last night I did (symphonies 6 & 7, ISO/Petri Sakari/Naxos).

I was in a forgiving mood and Sibelius' mannerisms didn't bother too much. Again I wondered about certain "clumsiness." Sibelius has a strange habid of stopping all sounds at the same time suddenly without any rational reason. It sounds like he got bored of what he was doing with the sounds, stopped it and started doing something else. There is not much overlapping of themes and ideas. This makes Sibelius extremely easy to listen to. No wonder I liked his music before I really got into classical music. His use of percussion instruments is silly. I'd say this is due to lack of orchestration skills. Also, I have always wondered why Sibelius used so much pizzicato. One thing I have to wine about too is unhealthy "spectrum of events" and poor rhythmic structure. Otherwine Sibelius' music is enjoyable. In fact, the 7th symphony has even a bit Elgarian noble mood!

[Steve]

Since my original post, I've acquired three wonderful sets.

Sir Colin Davis and the LSO



Karajan and the BPO



and Blomstedt/San Francisco 



The Blomstedt is probably my favourite set, but I love Karajan's 4th. 

Thanks again for the recs, I will probably be buying a fourth soon.

[karlhenning]

I was in a forgiving mood and Sibelius' mannerisms didn't bother too much. [snip] In fact, the 7th symphony has even a bit Elgarian noble mood!

Good gravy, but you're an utter comic!

[karlhenning]

Since my original post, I've acquired three wonderful sets.

. . . The Blomstedt is probably my favourite set . . . .

Splendid, splendid!

[PerfectWagnerite]

Is there a bad Sibelius cycle on the market? I have 5 sets and they are uniformly excellent: Davis/BSO, Segerstam/DNRSO, Sanderling, Berglund, and Barbirolli.

[Tsaraslondon]

The Blomstedt is probably my favourite set, but I love Karajan's 4th. 

I love Karajan's 4th too, and it's probably my favourite Sibelius symphony.

[rubio]

Has anyone heard this set with Anthony Collins/LSO (on Decca)?

[Drasko]

Has anyone heard this set with Anthony Collins/LSO (on Decca)?

No, I haven't but noticed that Australian Eloquence scheduled release of symphonies plus tone poems on two slim dubles for September, that should beat the others on price ($12 per one double).

http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/eloqoverview.html?id=umpphdBm#Forthcoming

[Harry]

Has anyone heard this set with Anthony Collins/LSO (on Decca)?

Same question here?

[Steve]

Has anyone heard this set with Anthony Collins/LSO (on Decca)?

I've only heard Symphonies 2 and 4 on this set, and I wasn't very impressed. The recording lacked the kind of command that graces Davis's rendition. Sound isn't all that good, either.