The Snowshoed Sibelius

[krummholz]

What do people think of Bernstein's 1960's NYPO cycle?  He was on fire during this period so curious to check it out.

This was my first exposure to all of the Sibelius symphonies (except the 1st, which I first heard as performed by Ormandy and the Philadelphians). The one caveat I'll give is that he takes the coda to the finale of the 4th VERY slowly. For many years I assumed that the slower tempo was actually in the score, but after listening to Sir Colin Davis, I realized that this was probably not true and that Lenny was taking enormous liberties here. (I've yet to see the score - should probably look for it online.)

In any case, today I prefer Davis in the 4th, but Bernstein in most of the others. Alas, I only had the set on LP and no longer own it (nor a turntable to play vinyl). Good to hear it's been remastered, may order it soon.

[vers la flamme]

Digging the 6th lately after some talk about it in this thread. I'm starting to see it as kind of like a sister to the more popular 7th. The Karajan/DG is a really great one. Sibelius is great to listen to in the winter time, sure, but for whatever reason Sibelius sounds great on these hot August days in the American south.

[relm1]

This was my first exposure to all of the Sibelius symphonies (except the 1st, which I first heard as performed by Ormandy and the Philadelphians). The one caveat I'll give is that he takes the coda to the finale of the 4th VERY slowly. For many years I assumed that the slower tempo was actually in the score, but after listening to Sir Colin Davis, I realized that this was probably not true and that Lenny was taking enormous liberties here. (I've yet to see the score - should probably look for it online.)

In any case, today I prefer Davis in the 4th, but Bernstein in most of the others. Alas, I only had the set on LP and no longer own it (nor a turntable to play vinyl). Good to hear it's been remastered, may order it soon.

But which Davis?  My go to set is Davis/BSO but I dislike Davis/LSO.  It lacks everything that made the Boston set great.

[Symphonic Addict]

My feeling about it as well. As I recall, Sibelius's subtitle (or maybe more of a motto) for the work was "As shadows lengthen..."

... over a mystical frozen lake, surrounded by a snowy forest...

[Madiel]

I get tired of the constant association of Sibelius with winter. You'd think that Finland only had one season.

[Roasted Swan]

I get tired of the constant association of Sibelius with winter. You'd think that Finland only had one season.

Like Australia?

[Madiel]

Like Australia?

We've got an entire continent here, and given that in winter I have nights below zero and in summer I can have days of 40 degrees I'd say that I have seasons. You just have stereotypes.

[DavidW]

I get tired of the constant association of Sibelius with winter. You'd think that Finland only had one season.

That is kind of like how Hollywood movies always use a yellow tint in depicting Mexico, everything in South America is in the amazon, and all of India looks like the slums of Mumbai. 

[Madiel]

That is kind of like how Hollywood movies always use a yellow tint in depicting Mexico, everything in South America is in the amazon, and all of India looks like the slums of Mumbai.

Yep.

[vandermolen]

That is kind of like how Hollywood movies always use a yellow tint in depicting Mexico, everything in South America is in the amazon, and all of India looks like the slums of Mumbai.

Old American films set in London (Sherlock Holmes etc) always show it encased in fog.

[DavidW]

Old American films set in London (Sherlock Holmes etc) always show it encased in fog.

Or raining!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Old American films set in London (Sherlock Holmes etc) always show it encased in fog.

Or raining!

I was trying to locate a comic strip that I remember from 1970's or '80's which I vividly recall--alas, I couldn't find it online to share.  It was a Hagar The Horrible cartoon of Hagar (a Viking) walking along with his skinny Viking cohort.  The first two or three frames were of them trodding along through the countryside getting soaked in the rain.  The next frame, they were walking along on a nice sunny day.  Last frame:  they were back to tromping along in the rain with Hagar saying to his friend "That was summertime in England".


PD

[Roasted Swan]

We've got an entire continent here, and given that in winter I have nights below zero and in summer I can have days of 40 degrees I'd say that I have seasons. You just have stereotypes.

Duh... no really.... I had NO IDEA

[Mirror Image]

This was my first exposure to all of the Sibelius symphonies (except the 1st, which I first heard as performed by Ormandy and the Philadelphians). The one caveat I'll give is that he takes the coda to the finale of the 4th VERY slowly. For many years I assumed that the slower tempo was actually in the score, but after listening to Sir Colin Davis, I realized that this was probably not true and that Lenny was taking enormous liberties here. (I've yet to see the score - should probably look for it online.)

In any case, today I prefer Davis in the 4th, but Bernstein in most of the others. Alas, I only had the set on LP and no longer own it (nor a turntable to play vinyl). Good to hear it's been remastered, may order it soon.

If you're looking for the Bernstein 60s set remastered, you probably won't find it and if you do, it'll be for a high price. I had looked for it some time ago, but ended up just going with a digital download from Qobuz, which I don't really like to do. I own this older Bernstein set:



But the recent remastering makes the aural image much clearer and this alone makes it preferable to the older set.

[vandermolen]

If you're looking for the Bernstein 60s set remastered, you probably won't find it and if you do, it'll be for a high price. I had looked for it some time ago, but ended up just going with a digital download from Qobuz, which I don't really like to do. I own this older Bernstein set:



But the recent remastering makes the aural image much clearer and this alone makes it preferable to the older set.

Me too John. Great set.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Me too John. Great set.

When did they remaster it?  For what its worth, I read some mixed-comments about at least a recent remastering.

I have the 1960's as part of a 2010 set from the Bernstein's "Symphonies" set.

PD

[Mirror Image]

When did they remaster it?  For what its worth, I read some mixed-comments about at least a recent remastering.

I have the 1960's as part of a 2010 set from the Bernstein's "Symphonies" set.

PD

Info can be found here:

https://www.discogs.com/Sibelius-Bernstein-Remastered-Edition-The-Symphonies/release/10800782

[André]

If you're looking for the Bernstein 60s set remastered, you probably won't find it and if you do, it'll be for a high price. I had looked for it some time ago, but ended up just going with a digital download from Qobuz, which I don't really like to do. I own this older Bernstein set:



But the recent remastering makes the aural image much clearer and this alone makes it preferable to the older set.

Embarrassing typo for the only soloist's name on the back cover  .  Such sloppiness shouldn't pass a major label's production process.

[André]

First listening ever to these two works.

[Mirror Image]

Embarrassing typo for the only soloist's name on the back cover  .  Such sloppiness shouldn't pass a major label's production process.

Agreed, but while on the subject of sloppiness...

First listening ever to these two works.