The Fifth: Sibelius or Nielsen?

[Mirror Image]

I can certainly see there being a tie between these two monumental Nordic symphonies. There's nothing like them in the entire symphonic repertoire. Completely singular and each composer writing in their mature idiom that cannot be replicated. I love both symphonies even though I did go with Sibelius.

[Sergeant Rock]

For you all: What are some of your favorite recordings for both works?

Sibelius: Rattle/Philharmonia; Berglund/Bournemouth; Bernstein/NY

Nielsen: Bernstein/NY; Horenstein/New Philharmonia


Sarge

[Mirror Image]

For you all: What are some of your favorite recordings for both works?

Sibelius 5th: Berglund/Bournemouth, Barbirolli/Halle, Karajan/Berliners (DG)
Nielsen 5th: Blomstedt/SFSO, Bernstein/NYPO

[Symphonic Addict]

Vanska/Lahti & Blomstedt/SFS for Sibelius.

Don't listen to Nielsen's 5th that much but would say Blomstedt/SFS again, along with Esa-Pekka Salonen/SRSO.

Bernstein/NYPO for Nielsen;

Celibidache DG live, for at least a very exceptional Sibelius ...

They're very standard answers, but accurate: Vänskä/Lahti (Sibelius), Bernstein/NY (Nielsen)... but for second choices, Berglund was also exceptional in Sibelius 5 (with a slight preference for me being the Bournemouth recording) and there's an equally exceptional one-off recording of Nielsen 5 from Kondrashin and the RCO, which exists in an out-of-print Philips single and one of the RCO boxsets (possibly also out-of-print) and can otherwise be heard here.

Rozhdestvensky for Sibelius and Gilbert for Nielsen. Other contenders: Sargent and Horenstein, respectively.

Sibelius: Rattle/Philharmonia; Berglund/Bournemouth; Bernstein/NY

Nielsen: Bernstein/NY; Horenstein/New Philharmonia


Sarge

Sibelius 5th: Berglund/Bournemouth, Barbirolli/Halle, Karajan/Berliners (DG)
Nielsen 5th: Blomstedt/SFSO, Bernstein/NYPO

Many thanks, gents! Somehow I had forgot to read your suggestions. I definitely don't know the Sargent and Rozhdestvensky, but I do concur with many others here, especially with Horenstein (Nielsen) and Karajan (Sibelius).

[Symphonic Addict]

I can certainly see there being a tie between these two monumental Nordic symphonies. There's nothing like them in the entire symphonic repertoire. Completely singular and each composer writing in their mature idiom that cannot be replicated. I love both symphonies even though I did go with Sibelius.

A huge +1!

[Mirror Image]

Many thanks, gents! Somehow I had forgot to read your suggestions. I definitely don't know the Sargent and Rozhdestvensky, but I do concur with many others here, especially with Horenstein (Nielsen) and Karajan (Sibelius).

Have you heard Bernstein's Nielsen 5th? It's UNBELIEVABLY GREAT!

[Symphonic Addict]

Have you heard Bernstein's Nielsen 5th? It's UNBELIEVABLY GREAT!

I have, of course, John! An utterly electrifying performance!!!

[Mirror Image]

I have, of course, John! An utterly electrifying performance!!!

[vers la flamme]

I'm very satisfied with Blomstedt's Nielsen recordings, so much so that I haven't thus far been tempted to seek out an alternative. Some of Blomstedt's best work from his San Francisco years.