The Snowshoed Sibelius

[Brahmsian]

I'm a bit worried that I seem to be turning into some sort of Rozhdestvensky freak! It's possible that I'm being swept away by the vision of the conductor rather than that of the composer, I suppose. But even if that's so, I'm intrigued by what I'm hearing, and I won't rest now until I've listened to the other 4ths that I have, to see if the emerging pattern is consistent.

Allan, have you heard the Maazel/WP Sibelius 4th?  It is outstanding!     Well, for me it is. 

[Elgarian]

Allan, have you heard the Maazel/WP Sibelius 4th?  It is outstanding!     Well, for me it is. 

No I haven't Ray, but one day I promise I will. There's lots I haven't heard, and too much happening right now for me to assimilate properly, really!

[Renfield]

No I haven't Ray, but one day I promise I will. There's lots I haven't heard, and too much happening right now for me to assimilate properly, really!

That recording is like an intravenous injection of liquid nitrogen. Meant in the best possible way!

[Brahmsian]

That recording is like an intravenous injection of liquid nitrogen. Meant in the best possible way!

Right from the opening chords!!

[Brahmsian]

That recording is like an intravenous injection of liquid nitrogen. Meant in the best possible way!

  That is quite the description!

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm a bit worried that I seem to be turning into some sort of Rozhdestvensky freak! It's possible that I'm being swept away by the vision of the conductor rather than that of the composer, I suppose. But even if that's so, I'm intrigued by what I'm hearing, and I won't rest now until I've listened to the other 4ths that I have, to see if the emerging pattern is consistent.

I haven't given Rozh's cycle the attention it deserves but I tried today. Listened to 4, 5, 6, 7. I actively dislike the Fifth--the last movement anyway. The Swan theme is rushed and silly sounding. I wanted more speed in the Sixth's opening movement but was generally quite pleased with it. Unfortunately I got distracted during the Seventh and didn't give it a proper listen. But I listened attentively to the Fourth, twice. Yeah, a great performance (and the best sound). I don't think it will replace Maazel/WP at the top of my pile but it's the only other Fourth I've heard that has a chance to do so. I'll do a comparative listen between them tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Sarge

[Brian]

I haven't given Rozh's cycle the attention it deserves but I tried today. Listened to 4, 5, 6, 7. I actively dislike the Fifth--the last movement anyway. The Swan theme is rushed and silly sounding. I wanted more speed in the Sixth's opening movement but was generally quite pleased with it. Unfortunately I got distracted during the Seventh and didn't give it a proper listen. But I listened attentively to the Fourth, twice. Yeah, a great performance (and the best sound). I don't think it will replace Maazel/WP at the top of my pile but it's the only other Fourth I've heard that has a chance to do so. I'll do a comparative listen between them tomorrow. Should be interesting.

Sarge

Darn, now I need to hear Rozh AND Maazel/WP's Fourths. Liquid nitrogen, huh?
Also, shame on all conductors who rush the Swan Theme. That means you too, Davis/BSO 

[DavidW]

Yeah the Maazel 4th is great.

[Brian]

I've been greatly enjoying the Maazel/Pittsburgh 4th, if the Vienna recording is even more intense that's... something I gotta hear!

[Brahmsian]

Yeah the Maazel 4th is great.

I may just have to give myself an injection tonight!!!   

[Mirror Image]

I've never warmed to Maazel's Sibelius recordings. There's something wrongheaded about the way he approached the music. I think I heard the Maazel/VPO set all the way through twice on different occasions and felt something missing in the music. Perhaps just some honest conviction from Maazel who is a conductor I've never been able to take seriously anyway. There are better cycles available.

[Sergeant Rock]

Darn, now I need to hear Rozh AND Maazel/WP's Fourths. Liquid nitrogen, huh?

Maazel, Vienna, the Fourth: unbelievable in its icy spell. That's one recording (well, there were many actually) M and I agreed about completely. Also love the Vienna First (although its been surpassed by Segerstam now).

Sarge

[Amfortas]

But what I wanted to say specifically, before it gets swept away in my personal tide of rapidly-changing Sibelian events, is that I've been testing out my newfound fascination for the 4th. 

There must be something going around. I listened the Sibelius 4th at least 4 times over the weekend. Just can't get the music out of my mind now

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Is there anyone else who loves Davis/BSO, especially in 7th? 

Well hey, I like it too, but imprinting is a factor. It was my first and only Sibelius for many years.

I'm seeing much praise for Segerstam/Helsinki. Would someone care to give an overview of this set's virtues?

[Elgarian]

That recording is like an intravenous injection of liquid nitrogen. Meant in the best possible way!

OK. I always was a sucker for liquid nitrogen, so I've ordered a set of Maazel/WP. (The economics of buying the single CD of 1st/4th separately, compared to the whole set in a nice box didn't seem to make much sense.)

But look here - this is ABSOLUTELY the VERY LAST set of Sibelius symphonies I'm EVER going to buy! Right?

[Elgarian]

I'm seeing much praise for Segerstam/Helsinki. Would someone care to give an overview of this set's virtues?

Not a full overview, but this was my preliminary response to two of the symphonies from the set (see #661 in this thread and the discussion that followed).

The 1st is, surely, the finest (that is, closest approach to my dream version) I've ever heard. There's no shortage of what I want (ice, cold air, northern skies, windblown pines), and there's also a kind of only-just-controlled wildness - a feeling that the lid is only just being kept on something huge. The sheer weight of the sweeping climaxes is staggering. I very much doubt that I'm going to hear a closer approach to what I seem to have been searching for than this.

The 3rd is very different - not so wild, the sense of control rather tighter. The beginning is like seeing a light through crystal - exquisite. I wondered how he'd tackle that somewhat 'classical' feeling that attaches itself to this symphony in places, and it seems to me that he's bang up to the job. When I got to the closing few minutes I couldn't believe the sheer inexorable mounting pressure. Not wild, in this case - it's the dynamism of the approaching steam train rather than the leaping tiger - but my goodness, the hair on the neck is set a-prickling and no mistake.

This box is unbelievable, and I'm wondering at this point just how much dust my other Sibelius symphonies are going to gather from here on.

[Brian]

Velimir, I think I'll point out that from my point of view Elgarian heard and discussed two of the three best performances of Segerstam's set - the other being the Seventh. I agree with his descriptions of 1 and 3 entirely, especially third-finale-as-freight-train and the sense that he's only barely got the First on the leash, an account that manages to marry a big lavish orchestral sound to frantic, tragic pacing and a blunt, icy pathos. Still my favorite First. I haven't heard the Second and only heard the Fourth once, but No 6 was the slightest of disappointments and No 5 actually infuriates me: it's going perfectly until the final triumphant reappearance of the swan hymn, when Segerstam doubles the tempo to deprive me of my hard-earned bliss and to get to and through the Big Silences as quickly as possible.

[karlhenning]

There's something wrongheaded about the way [Maazel] approached the music.

Rubbish! There's something wrongheaded about your approach to recordings you don't care for.  I've owned the Maazel/Vienna set more than a decade, and (the composer talking) I know the music tolerably well;  there's hardly anything "wrongheaded" at any point in the seven symphonies.

Strike that nonsensical objection.

[mahler10th]

ChamberNut: 
  Retarded chimps could have done a better job with Sibelius than that 'chump' Davis.   

WHHAAAATTTT???
I cannot believe that.  Davis is one of the finest Sibelians I've ever heard.  He brings something to Sibelius that fits perfectly (don't ask me what that is, though).  Hmmm...what have I missed that is so bad?

[karlhenning]

Johnny, our Ray was having a bit of fun there!