The Snowshoed Sibelius

[Tapkaara]

We're always glad to have another Sibelius fan aboard, dude!  (I see you're from Lakeside--no doubt y'all have suffered the same frightening growth the past few decades that's beleaguered North County, I presume?  Is Dudley's Bakery still in business?

Dudley's is indeed still in business! Lakeside has experienced growth, I suppose, but it still feels like a small town...just how I like it.

[ChamberNut]

Well, I don't find the 7th by Davis and the BSO dull at all (Pentatone Classics disc).  In fact, that catapulted Sibelius' 7th in my all time favorite symphonies.

[DavidRoss]

Dudley's is indeed still in business! Lakeside has experienced growth, I suppose, but it still feels like a small town...just how I like it.

Cool!  Back when I was a young fellow living in Escondido (and gas was 25¢/gallon), I used to sprint up the hill on weekend mornings for some of that fresh-baked goodness.  Back then the line might go out the door.  Nowadays I expect it stretches halfway to Santee!

[DavidRoss]

Well, I don't find the 7th by Davis and the BSO dull at all (Pentatone Classics disc).  In fact, that catapulted Sibelius' 7th in my all time favorite symphonies.

That's great, Ray.  Don't know if this is a case of different strokes, or if the Pentatone recording differs from the one on Philips, but any recording that helps us to appreciate Old Baldy is a good one in my book!

[Tapkaara]

Well, I don't find the 7th by Davis and the BSO dull at all (Pentatone Classics disc).  In fact, that catapulted Sibelius' 7th in my all time favorite symphonies.

Hmmm...I'll have to pop it into the plaer this afternoon to see if I experiece any new found appreciation. I do think his readings of the 3rd and 6th in this cycle are actually pretty good, by the way. David, perhaps, seems better tuned in to the "lighter" symphonies" in this cycle.

[jlaurson]

Is that just me? Does everyone else think the RCA Davis set is the bees' knees, like Penguin?

No, actually... from the feedback I have, all I've heard and all coinciding with my own estimation, everyone seems to know that the RCA Sibelius is not just not as good as his other go-s at Sibelius, but that it's a downright dreary, possibly even dreadful, affair.

The other two cycles have high points, but are totally overrated, too. Sibelius with the sappy emotional intelligence of Oscar Straus simply don't work. It's ironic that Davis got to known well for what he's done to that composer. (No discredit to Davis' Berlioz, though. And there's a Dresden Sibelius "2" that's more than reasonably fine, too...)

Edit: Holy cow: 8 Responses in 4 minutes or so. You certainly hit a nerve.

[ChamberNut]

Don't know if this is a case of different strokes,

Probably just is. 

[karlhenning]

Tapiola and Blomstedt: I'm lovin' it!

[DavidRoss]

Tapiola and Blomstedt: I'm lovin' it!

I'll be there before the day is out.  Time for Sakari's 6th now. 

[Tapkaara]

Well, I just gave Davis/BSO another go and it's not all bad, is it? Actually pretty good. Davis keep the energy flowing throughout the work in what ends up being a fairly taut yet satisfying performance. I hadn't listened to it for about a year (the Davis/BSO version, that is) and perhaps I need to take back any negative comments I once had of this performance...!

[Elgarian]

Damn but it's one of the most compelling openings in the entire repertoire--and it just goes on, building bit by bit, cell by cell, like nothing anyone had ever even imagined before, and which despite my familiarity, I cannot help but get drawn into whenever I hear it.

This be truth indeed.

If you're looking for a fantastic 1st, and 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, performed with Romantic fire and sweep, you cannot do better than Bernstein's cycle with the NYPO from the '60s.  (The other 3 symphonies are performed well, too!)

Could we focus for a moment on just the 1st, and gather opinions? You're going to spend 6 months in a wooden hut in Lapland, and you can only take one version of Sibelius 1. Which one? (DR, I presume, would opt for Bernstein and the NYPO.)

[Tapkaara]

This be truth indeed.

Could we focus for a moment on just the 1st, and gather opinions? You're going to spend 6 months in a wooden hut in Lapland, and you can only take one version of Sibelius 1. Which one? (DR, I presume, would opt for Bernstein and the NYPO.)

Either Segerstam/Helsinki or Davis/LSO.

[Sergeant Rock]

Could we focus for a moment on just the 1st, and gather opinions? You're going to spend 6 months in a wooden hut in Lapland, and you can only take one version of Sibelius 1. Which one? (DR, I presume, would opt for Bernstein and the NYPO.)

Maazel/WP

Sarge

[Tapkaara]

Maazel/WP

Sarge

That, likely, would have been my 3rd choice.

[Elgarian]

Holy cow: 8 Responses in 4 minutes or so. You certainly hit a nerve.

Didn't I just? Actually this is really encouraging. I'd put my Sibelius quest on the backburner, but now I think I need to put Davis and the LSO on the back burner, and set out afresh.

[Sergeant Rock]

Hmmm...I'll have to pop it into the plaer this afternoon to see if I experiece any new found appreciation. I do think his readings of the 3rd and 6th in this cycle are actually pretty good, by the way.

They are. The negative comments about Davis and Boston really disturb me....well, actually they don't    I don't care what anyone else thinks. Davis' 3, 6 and 7 are among the great Sibelius interpretations (the Brits aren't wrong here). That Sixth is my all-time favorite. Davis opened up that work for me; made me see the light. Everything about it is perfect. If the Sixth is Sibelius in Mozartian mode, then that explains why Davis does it so well.

About the RCA set: greatest Kullervo ever! Davis' slow, enormous, majestic first movement is just unbelievably awesome.

Just thought I'd chime in to provide some fairness and balance  

Sarge

[Tapkaara]

They are. The negative comments about Davis and Boston really disturb me....well, actually they don't    I don't care what anyone else thinks. Davis' 3, 6 and 7 are among the great Sibelius interpretations (the Brits aren't wrong here). That Sixth is my all-time favorite. Davis opened up that work for me; made me see the light. Everything about it is perfect. If the Sixth is Sibelius in Mozartian mode, then that explains why Davis does it so well.

About the RCA set: greatest Kullervo ever! Davis' slow, enormous, majestic first movement is just unbelievably awesome.

Just thought I'd chime in to provide some fairness and balance  

Sarge

What do you think of the squelched brass during the 'swan theme' in his reading of the 5th?

[Sergeant Rock]

What do you think of the squelched brass during the 'swan theme' in his reading of the 5th?

Hate it. His Boston 1, 2, and 5 I no longer listen to.

Sarge

[Elgarian]

Thanks! Great! Keep 'em coming and we'll add 'em up in a day or two, to get the Definitive Answer.

[Elgarian]

Either Segerstam/Helsinki or Davis/LSO.

But if you HAD to choose - which one?