Aulis Sallinen , which recordings?

[Harry]

I want to acquire the music of Sallinen, but there are two versions. The ones on CPO, and the rival versions on BIS.
Help would be appreciated very much.
Feel free to give your opinion on other recommendations.
Thanks

[Maciek]

And I'm another one interested! So there'll two of us appreciating.

[not edward]

Most of the cpo recordings are essential (I don't have the most recent). I assume that their symphony cycle will be completed eventually, however 3, 5 and 6 aren't out yet.

I would recommend all the cpos, though I'd suggest you supplement them with 1 & 3 on BIS (I strongly prefer Berglund's more virile recordings of 1 and Chorali to Rasilainen's more sensuous interpretation on cpo) and either the Finlandia or BIS recordings of the 5th symphony. For other works, the string quartets and Songs of Life and Death on Ondine are strongly recommended (even if you don't like vocal music).

[Harry]

Most of the cpo recordings are essential (I don't have the most recent). I assume that their symphony cycle will be completed eventually, however 3, 5 and 6 aren't out yet.

I would recommend all the cpos, though I'd suggest you supplement them with 1 & 3 on BIS (I strongly prefer Berglund's more virile recordings of 1 and Chorali to Rasilainen's more sensuous interpretation on cpo) and either the Finlandia or BIS recordings of the 5th symphony. For other works, the string quartets and Songs of Life and Death on Ondine are strongly recommended (even if you don't like vocal music).

If you buy the CPO disc and the BIS of the first Symphony you double up, and later on with the third Symphony as well.
For me is to find out which I have to invest in, in your opinion that would be CPO. I will look out for the SQ.
Thanks.

[springrite]

I only have the BIS, which is good, but I imagine it can be bettered.

Songs of Life and Death is by far my favorite Sallinen non-opera work! You simply MUST get it! If you are interested in opera at all, Sallinen composed some of the best late 20th century operas there is.

[Harry]

I only have the BIS, which is good, but I imagine it can be bettered.

Songs of Life and Death is by far my favorite Sallinen non-opera work! You simply MUST get it! If you are interested in opera at all, Sallinen composed some of the best late 20th century operas there is.

Tell me a little more why you think the BIS recording can be bettered!
I consider Songs of life and Death, if you insist my friend, but decline with respect the opera offering.

[vandermolen]

Just investigating this composer. Had Symphony No 1 etc on a BIS LP. Now have Symphony 8, Violin concerto etc on CD (CPO). Interesting, thought provoking music. any particular recommendations; which symphonies? I like the work "Shadows" on this CD.

[Dundonnell]

I shall get back to you on this, Jeffrey...I promise

Trying to get ready for a cocktail party I am going to

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

If you like the 8th Symphony, be sure to hear the 4th and 5th - both great late-20th-c. symphonies. 4 is the more traditional work, and I like it more  than 5, but I seem to be in the minority on this.

Already mentioned by others: Songs of Life and Death, a de facto requiem, is highly recommended.

[vandermolen]

If you like the 8th Symphony, be sure to hear the 4th and 5th - both great late-20th-c. symphonies. 4 is the more traditional work, and I like it more  than 5, but I seem to be in the minority on this.

Already mentioned by others: Songs of Life and Death, a de facto requiem, is highly recommended.

thank you. V helpful 

[vandermolen]

I shall get back to you on this, Jeffrey...I promise

Trying to get ready for a cocktail party I am going to

Of course I think it quite unreasonable that you should be going to a "cocktail party" instead of listening to your entire Sallinen collection in order to make recommendations for my further listening pleasure. But, on this occasion, I will be magnanimous and wish you a nice time 

[mahler10th]

Of course I think it quite unreasonable that you should be going to a "cocktail party" instead of listening to your entire Sallinen collection in order to make recommendations for my further listening pleasure. But, on this occasion, I will be magnanimous and wish you a nice time 

LOL   

[vandermolen]

LOL   

[mahler10th]

Have got 6 Sallinen albums, four BIS and one Naxos and one CPO.
I am no sound engineer and am of limited experience, but something of the crispness and clarity of the CPO Symphonies 1,7, Chorali, and King Lear that keep me coming back to them over the BIS discs time after time.  There isn't much in it, I can only say the CPO is just a bit more 'shiny' than the BIS.
The Naxos has a fine life of its own too, but their publishing of Sallinen is less prolific, which is a shame because this is beautiful:

[vandermolen]

Have got 6 Sallinen albums, four BIS and one Naxos and one CPO.
I am no sound engineer and am of limited experience, but something of the crispness and clarity of the CPO Symphonies 1,7, Chorali, and King Lear that keep me coming back to them over the BIS discs time after time.  There isn't much in it, I can only say the CPO is just a bit more 'shiny' than the BIS.
The Naxos has a fine life of its own too, but their publishing of Sallinen is less prolific, which is a shame because this is beautiful:

Didn't know there was anything on Naxos; thanks. I am enjoying Symphony No 8 a lot and will probably look out for Symphony No 4 next.

[bhodges]

Has anyone heard The King Goes Forth to France?  A friend was telling me about the production in Santa Fe in the mid-1980s, which sounded interesting, but I am curious about the recording of it below.

--Bruce

[Dundonnell]

Of course I think it quite unreasonable that you should be going to a "cocktail party" instead of listening to your entire Sallinen collection in order to make recommendations for my further listening pleasure. But, on this occasion, I will be magnanimous and wish you a nice time 

Very well...I am returned(in body at least ) so I shall attempt to respond I had forgotten how potent some cocktails can be.....masquerading under these innocent sounding names with words like 'strawberry' in them but, in reality............

Sallinen-yes, my Sallinen collection...I have Symphony No.1 and Symphony No.3(BIS CD-41-Okko Kamu)-you've got that one I think and the recordings are from 1972 and 1975 respectively;

Symphonies Nos. 1 nd 7 "The Dreams of Gandalf"(CPO 918-2-Ari Rasilainen)-gives you a much more modern recording of No.1 and the only version of No.7, although, to be honest, I was a bit disappointed by the 7th

Symphonies Nos. 2 and 6 'From a New Zealand Diary'(BIS CD-511-Okko Kamu)-No.2 is a favourite of mine although it is a short piece and its subtitle 'Symphonic Dialogue for Solo Percussion Player and Orchestra' gives a better idea of its real nature

Nos. 2 and 4(CPO 969-2-Ari Rasilainen)- this is worth getting too and the you get the excellent Horn Concerto as a coupling

Symphony No.4 and Symphony No.5(BIS CD-607-James DePriest)-that's a coupling I would strongly recommend, two fine symphonies in excellent performances, No.4 is a really powerful, grim piece;

Nos. 4 and 5 again(this time Finlandia-Okko Kamu)-older versions and may no longer be available but coupled with an excellent performance of the good Cello Concerto(Arto Noras)

No.8(CPO 972-2-Rasilainen)-only recording of No.8 and a good modern recording of the Violin Concerto, a work which is also available on BIS CD-560

The Ondine cd with the Songs of Life and Death and the Iron Age Suite is a must as well(ODE844-2)

The CPO disc with three of the Chamber Music pieces is less essential perhaps but that's just me......

So....if you have got Nos. 1 and 8, I would go for Nos. 2 and 6(BIS) and 4 and 5(BIS) or Nos. 2 and 4(CPO). Performances are generally good and there is inmo not much between the BIS and CPO to make much of a difference. Trouble is, if you're like me, you will end up wanting both to get all the symphonies, haha

Apologies for my semi-drunken ramblings

[vandermolen]

Thanks Colin, very helpful (albeit clearly written under the influence of 15 or so cocktails  ) I think that I will go for Symphony No 4 and 5 on BIS next. No 4's grimness should appeal to my sense of impending catastrophe.

Thanks again

Jeffrey

[The new erato]

To quote myself from the trhread on Scandinavian and Finnish composers:

I was recently hugely impressed by Sallinens 4th symphony, stark, original (though obviously indebted to late Sibelius) and powerful. 

This is the cpo recording, very fine sound, too. I am working my way through the cpo cycle and have 3 of their 4 issues. No 4 is the symphony I like the most, though.

[Dundonnell]

I should have added in my long post above that the 3rd symphony is a magical work too! It was written by Sallinen while he was living on an island in the Baltic and it is very redolent of the sea. In addition to the influences of Shostakovich and Stravinsky one hears the Britten of the bleak East Anglian coastline.

Recommended also therefore