The Snowshoed Sibelius

[snyprrr]

Blomstedt didn't do a 7th, did he?

[DavidRoss]

Blomstedt didn't do a 7th, did he?

Yes he did, and like all the rest of his Sibelius recordings, it's terrific.

See this:
[asin]B000FOQ1EA[/asin]

Perhaps the best cycle on record of them all.

[Brian]

Perhaps the best cycle on record of them all.

Listening to it over the past month or so, I'm coming around to this position. I haven't heard the First yet, but he nails the finale of 2, and although 5 is not my favorite (Lenny), 3-6 are collectively as outstanding as anybody's ever done them. I'm impressed.

Flying Inkpot (remember him?) ranked Bournemouth-Berglund his favorite Seventh, I think, and I've been dying to hear that cycle. Will eagerly snap it up in spring 2013 when the price drops to "you're kidding" levels.

[DavidRoss]

Flying Inkpot (remember him?) ranked Bournemouth-Berglund his favorite Seventh, I think, and I've been dying to hear that cycle. Will eagerly snap it up in spring 2013 when the price drops to "you're kidding" levels.

I do remember the site and the self-described "Sibelius Nut." He loved the whole cycle, as I recall.

If you get tired of waiting, you could always spring for the Royal Classics edition on the secondhand market. Amazon Marketplace offers it for as little as $139.99, or about as much as some individual issues of Blomstedt's San Francisco cycle before it was finally reissued as a box set.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

If you get tired of waiting, you could always spring for the Royal Classics edition on the secondhand market. Amazon Marketplace offers it for as little as $139.99, or about as much as some individual issues of Blomstedt's San Francisco cycle before it was finally reissued as a box set.

[Mirror Image]

Yes he did, and like all the rest of his Sibelius recordings, it's terrific.

See this:
[asin]B000FOQ1EA[/asin]

Perhaps the best cycle on record of them all.

I own 18 cycles of Sibelius' symphonies and Blomstedt, along with all three of Colin Davis' cycles, are my least favorites, although Inkinen on Naxos isn't that exciting either. The Petri Sakari performances, on Naxos, were better than Inkinen's. Don't know why, but they were. Blomstedt suffers from the same lack of power and drive that plagues all of Colin Davis' cycles. Drab, lifeless performances that go nowhere. For me, it doesn't get much better than Bernstein, Vanska, or Berglund (Helsinki cycle is my favorite). I even like Barbirolli's cycle better than Blomstedt. At least Barbirolli's has some character and edge to the performances.

[Karl Henning]

. . . Drab, lifeless performances that go nowhere.

Dude, you need a new pair of ears ; )

[Brian]

I own 18 cycles of Sibelius' music and Blomstedt, along with all three of Colin Davis' cycles, are my least favorites, although Inkinen on Naxos isn't that exciting either. The Petri Sakari performances, on Naxos, were better than Inkinen's. Don't know why, but they were. Blomstedt suffers from the same lack of power and drive that plagues all of Colin Davis' cycles. Drab, lifeless performances that go nowhere. For me, it doesn't get much better than Bernstein, Vanska, or Berglund (Helsinki cycle is my favorite). I even like Barbirolli's cycle better than Blomstedt. At least Barbirolli's has some character and edge to the performances.

Sakari is superior to Inkinen everywhere, though I like Inkinen's Seventh. Of course, that's no surprise, as Sakari is in fact an interesting, non-standard approach - very icy and chamberlike. I really don't hear the "lack of power and drive" in Blomstedt; quite the reverse actually: I fault 5.ii for being too fast, and I like the force he brings to places like #2's finale.

I recently acquired Bernstein - only have heard 4 and 5, but am very excited by how closely they align with my taste. Lenny's 5 is my top choice.

[Sergeant Rock]

Blomstedt suffers from the same lack of power and drive that plagues all of Colin Davis' cycles.

Dude, you need a new pair of ears ; )

No shit    Has MI even heard Davis's Boston Sixth? That's as driven as a Ferrari 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Lenny's 5 is my top choice.

We've been on the same quest, and have arrived at the same destination. Still, I'm anxious for you to hear the Berglund/Bournemouth Fifth.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

Dude, you need a new pair of ears ; )

I've just never been impressed with Colin Davis' Sibelius performances. It's interesting that Davis' first cycle with the BSO was my first Sibelius cycle and then I heard Bernstein's cycle with the NY Philharmonic and thought "Oh, so that's what Davis was missing."

[Mirror Image]

No shit    Has MI even heard Davis's Boston Sixth? That's as driven as a Ferrari 

Sarge

No, Sarge. I haven't heard any Colin Davis' performances and I gave my opinion purely on assumption. Yes, I have heard ALL of Davis' cycles. Davis' 6th with the BSO doesn't come close to Vanska's. Sorry.

[Mirror Image]

Sakari is superior to Inkinen everywhere, though I like Inkinen's Seventh. Of course, that's no surprise, as Sakari is in fact an interesting, non-standard approach - very icy and chamberlike. I really don't hear the "lack of power and drive" in Blomstedt; quite the reverse actually: I fault 5.ii for being too fast, and I like the force he brings to places like #2's finale.

I recently acquired Bernstein - only have heard 4 and 5, but am very excited by how closely they align with my taste. Lenny's 5 is my top choice.

Nah, I don't like Blomstedt. He's just incredibly boring to me and lacks excitement. Give me any of the conductors' cycles that I mentioned that I enjoy any day.

[DavidRoss]

I own 18 cycles of Sibelius' symphonies and Blomstedt, along with all three of Colin Davis' cycles, are my least favorites, although Inkinen on Naxos isn't that exciting either. The Petri Sakari performances, on Naxos, were better than Inkinen's. Don't know why, but they were. Blomstedt suffers from the same lack of power and drive that plagues all of Colin Davis' cycles. Drab, lifeless performances that go nowhere. For me, it doesn't get much better than Bernstein, Vanska, or Berglund (Helsinki cycle is my favorite). I even like Barbirolli's cycle better than Blomstedt. At least Barbirolli's has some character and edge to the performances.

As if it were needed, your disapproval only confirms the wisdom of my judgment, supported by your laughable claim that Blomstedt's performances lack character and edge. Sakari is damned good, too--colorful, characterful, lean and mean and impassioned. Given your track record it's not surprising that you don't recognize its virtues, either. And judging Colin Davis as similar to Blomstedt is like judging a Buick LeSabre as similar to an Audi A8.

Question--you say Berglund's Helsinki cycle is your favorite. Do you know (know, not just know of) Berglund's other cycles? Or is this just another "opinion" based on prejudice unleavened by considered experience?

[mahler10th]

Drab, lifeless performances that go nowhere.

I agree with Karl.  Get yer ears cleaned oot laddie.  Bernstein is probably last on my list of Sibelius interpreters.  How awful to think him a great Sibelian.     May I ask, what is it you're listening for / to in Sibelius?  It has come as quite a shock to me that you have completely dismissed one of the finest Sibelian interpreters out there, Davis.  I used to have Bernsteins Sibelius, but thought it so off the mark it never got played, and when it was lost in a fire I couldn't have cared less about that. 
The thing about Sibelius is giving him an 'exciting' edge is just not on.  A Sibelius played by a dynamic and lonely Orchestra on a glacier near the top of a mountain with nymph infested pine trees as its only audience on either side under a darkening clear blue sky, white moon and Venus on the horizon...  er...thats the way I want to hear in 'em anyway.  Something like that.       Bernstein is as far removed from that as hell as can be, Blomstedt is there, so is Davis and Ashkenazy.
Ashkenazy is often described as too 'warm' - something I find hard to hear when his Sibelius ice cubes are dropping into my glass of satisfaction.   
Oh dear.  Looks like I've went somewhat daft...but honest, it is such a surprise to hear Davis and Blomstedt described as lacking 'power and drive'.  Power and Drive are the natural result of Sibelius played well, they should not be pushed as the main feature ala Bernstein - he misses the point with Sibelius.
Oh well...

[Sadko]

... I used to have Bernsteins Sibelius, but thought it so off the mark ...

yes!

[Sergeant Rock]

So am I the only Sibelian who thinks both Davis and Bernstein are terrific? 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

No, Sarge. Davis' 6th with the BSO doesn't come close to Vanska's. Sorry.

Davis doesn't come close to Vänskä because Davis is so far ahead! Sorry 

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

So am I the only Sibelian who thinks both Davis and Bernstein are terrific? 

Sarge

Hah!

I should revisit the Davis/BSO Sixth. I certainly think highly of both Blomstedt and Lenny.

[Brian]

We've been on the same quest, and have arrived at the same destination. Still, I'm anxious for you to hear the Berglund/Bournemouth Fifth.

Sarge

I'm anxious for me to hear it too!

Count me a big fan of Blomstedt, Bernstein, and... no, I'm pretty mixed in my views on Davis. But I like Berglund/Helsinki and Sakari and some Vanska too.