The Snowshoed Sibelius

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Symphony No. 3 is one of my favourites.

+1!!!

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I had the original LP release of Groves's 'The Tempest' my introduction to this fine work. I think that it was coupled with The Bard and In Memoriam, both great discoveries for me. Symphony No. 3 is one of my favourites. I think that it is the symphony in which Sibelius becomes Sibelius.

Yes, agree about the third symphony.

[amw]

Symphony No. 3 is one of my favourites. I think that it is the symphony in which Sibelius becomes Sibelius.

More or less, although the slow movement of the Second Symphony also qualifies (esp. those brass outbursts).

The Third is probably my favourite overall, though the 4th and 6th are close behind (I'm not sure I could listen to the 6th everyday though, I'd probably kill myself within a month, or move to Finland and spend the rest of my life staring at the snow). I've never been as strongly moved by the 7th for some reason, though I "know" it's a great work—perhaps because I didn't get to know it during the same, extremely vulnerable, period of my life. 2 through 6 is pretty much Sibelius for me.

[Ken B]

More or less, although the slow movement of the Second Symphony also qualifies (esp. those brass outbursts).

The Third is probably my favourite overall, though the 4th and 6th are close behind (I'm not sure I could listen to the 6th everyday though, I'd probably kill myself within a month, or move to Finland and spend the rest of my life staring at the snow). I've never been as strongly moved by the 7th for some reason, though I "know" it's a great work—perhaps because I didn't get to know it during the same, extremely vulnerable, period of my life. 2 through 6 is pretty much Sibelius for me.

7 has a remarkable emotional flow and logic to it, unlike any other, which is why I respond to it so much. All of his mature symphonies have their own moods though: something, if not for everyone, at least for a lucky few of us.

[amw]

I am planning to revisit Sibelius's symphonies at some point in the not-too-distant future, I don't even own a complete set. The summer of 2008 was a long time ago (if you're my age). My impressions are almost certain to be different this time around.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Thank god I'm not the only one who doesn't like 7th much. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it but it neither sends much of those shivers going down my back that say the "Christ theme" in slow movement of 2nd symphony does. I may sound shallow, but if I were shallow, I wouldn't love 4th symphony, right? Which I absolutely adore. That 3rd movement is equal in power to funeral march in eroica or Götterdämmerung. IIRC Sibelius asked that they play this movement at his funeral.

[Brahmsian]

Currently, as of this minute  , these are my following favourites in order:

1. Symphony No. 6

2. Symphony No. 2

3. Symphony No. 4, 5 and 7.

4. Symphony No. 3

5. Symphony No. 1  (and I love this symphony, it is just that I love the others even more at the moment.)

[Karl Henning]

[...]
5. Symphony No. 1  (and I love this symphony, it is just that I love the others even more at the moment.)

Yes, yes, and yes.

[Ken B]

Currently, as of this minute  , these are my following favourites in order:

1. Symphony No. 6

2. Symphony No. 2

3. Symphony No. 4, 5 and 7.

4. Symphony No. 3

5. Symphony No. 1  (and I love this symphony, it is just that I love the others even more at the moment.)

I find Sibelius had the good graces to improve with each attempt.

[Karl Henning]

I find Sibelius had the good graces to improve with each attempt.

That's the way you do it.

[Brahmsian]

In memory of the late Maestro Maazel

Symphony No. 5, 6 and 7.

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[Madiel]

I'm back in Sibelius symphony mode and falling in love with them all over again. Can't believe I haven't listened to any of them in about 3.5 years! For symphonies 1 & 2 it's been 5 years, and for 5 through 7 it's even longer. What the hell was I thinking?!

I absolutely need to get some more works - all I have is 2 Double Deccas of Ashkenazy performing the symphonies, which has a handful of other works. En Saga is great (I've recently seen a serious Sibelian say Ashkenazy's version is particularly good). I now love the Swan of Tuonela and definitely want all 4 legends.

I shall start scouring this thread for recommendations...

[North Star]

I'm back in Sibelius symphony mode and falling in love with them all over again. Can't believe I haven't listened to any of them in about 3.5 years! For symphonies 1 & 2 it's been 5 years, and for 5 through 7 it's even longer. What the hell was I thinking?!

I absolutely need to get some more works - all I have is 2 Double Deccas of Ashkenazy performing the symphonies, which has a handful of other works. En Saga is great (I've recently seen a serious Sibelian say Ashkenazy's version is particularly good). I now love the Swan of Tuonela and definitely want all 4 legends.

I shall start scouring this thread for recommendations...

Segerstam (Ondine) is excellent in Lemminkäinen, but I bet this, released last month, is superb, too. On a general level, you can't go wrong with Berglund & Helsinki or Vänskä & Lahti.

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[Madiel]

Segerstam (Ondine) is excellent in Lemminkäinen, but I bet this, released last month, is superb, too. On a general level, you can't go wrong with Berglund & Helsinki or Vänskä & Lahti.

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Yes, I saw that one with interest.

I'm actually finding myself quite irritated with the Sibelius discography, because it tends to be so very symphony-focused. With the same fillers cropping up more often than not.* One wonders if that's just a consequence of a composer writing a group of symphonies that tend to fit 2-to-a-disc quite neatly...

...and currently I have some allergic reaction to Vanska's name thanks to the complete Sibelius set and all its sub-permutations. An awful lot of discs from that series come across as "here's one thing we know you'll all want, coupled with first thoughts/alternate versions/youthful works that the composer didn't actually want and most of you won't either".  But thankfully, that new Vanska disc doesn't fall into that category. One major, well-known opus coupled with an interesting yet sensible filler is what I'm after.

The Charles Groves 2-disc set that was recently mentioned looks interesting, I've not seen that until now.

Another set that caught my eye was this one:

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However I've seen a curious mix of views regarding Jarvi's performances. Some seem to like them a great deal, others seem to find them rather 'safe'.  I don't know what I'm looking for, though... all I can tell you is that I do enjoy Ashkenazy's symphonies, but I don't really have anything to compare them to.

There's also a set of Legends by Jarvi on BIS, I'm guessing they're different performances? The Penguin Guide seems to like the BIS one, but again I've seen a lot of comments suggesting Jarvi is a bit staid.


* I know I'm far from typical around here (nor, judging from the market supply, am I typical in the market!) but I'd much rather have good-quality performances of a dozen different works than own a dozen performances of the same work in the quest for the 'perfect' version. For any composer worth their salt I'm more interested in getting a picture of their body of work.  And I find it hard to credit that a composer of the quality demonstrated in Sibelius' symphonies didn't write a very large amount of excellent music. I like his symphonies for much the same reasons I like Holmboe's (in fact, comparisons to Sibelius are one of the main reasons I ever tried Holmboe), and this forum is witness to the effect that the latter composer has had on me!

[Madiel]

I've just had a look at some reviews of that 'new' Vanska Legends. It turns out that the recordings aren't brand new, some of them have appeared on other discs, but never all together!

(That's what I mean, the way BIS has handled this material has been annoying. Looks like they're finally fixing it?)

All of the 3 or 4 reviews I found were very positive.

[Brahmsian]

In memory of the late Maestro Maazel

Symphony No. 2 & 3

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[Madiel]

Also curious if anyone has heard any of the recordings of Inkinen with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra?  As well as the symphonies, there are these 2 discs...

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[jlaurson]

Also curious if anyone has heard any of the recordings of Inkinen with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra?  As well as the symphonies, there are these 2 discs...


Sibelius, Tone Poems I
NZSO / Inkinen


Sibelius, Tone Poems II
NZSO / Inkinen

Very good recordings, indeed... good enough, certainly, to have made Inkinen's name. Go-to stuff.

[Madiel]

Very good recordings, indeed... good enough, certainly, to have made Inkinen's name. Go-to stuff.

Thanks. I did seem to be finding a lot of positive remarks about them.

I'd be interested if you had any thoughts on Jarvi (either DG or BIS recordings), as you seem to be rather well-versed on matters Sibelian.

[Brahmsian]

In memory of the late Maestro Maazel

Symphony No. 1st & 4th - 'The Liquid Nitrogen Symphony'

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