The Snowshoed Sibelius

[TheGSMoeller]

4th - 'The Liquid Nitrogen Symphony'

?? I'm not familiar enough with this piece to get the reference, Ray. But I'm intrigued. 

[North Star]

?? I'm not familiar enough with this piece to get the reference, Ray. But I'm intrigued. 

Someone called Maazel & VPO's S4 interpretation liquid nitrogen on this forum ages ago.

[TheGSMoeller]

Someone called Maazel & VPO's S4 interpretation liquid nitrogen on this forum ages ago.

Ahh, thanks, Karlo. Perhaps I'll give this performance a listen.

[Karl Henning]

Was it Elgarian?

[North Star]

Renfield:

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

[Karl Henning]

Thanks!

[Madiel]

This is another disc that's caught my eye now, somehow didn't the other day:

[asin]B000068R26[/asin]

Another Vanska disc with a tracklist that isn't random bits-and-pieces. A couple of glowing reviews, and only a low-level grumble from the Hurwitzer. Possibly a bit harder to get a hold of, though.

[Brahmsian]

?? I'm not familiar enough with this piece to get the reference, Ray. But I'm intrigued. 

Re:  Sibelius 4th - Maazel/VPO - as mentioned already, it was Renfield who came up with the reference.  It is a corker! 

[jlaurson]

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.

The Papa Järvi recordings of the tone poems on DG was my first collection of these pieces -- and it has served me well... but I cannot say that it bowled me over, there and then. Then again that doesn't mean that it's not up to Inkinnen, because when I heard the latter, my ears were at a much more appreciative state... thanks to the wisdom old age had brought me by then. 

His BIS recordings... well, actually, I probably have SOME of them in that amazing "Essential Sibelius" box of BIS'... But again, off the top of my head, I find myself unable to make any reasonable value judgement that would give you anything substantial to go by.

[Brahmsian]

I absolutely love the Maazel/Vienna Phil recordings of Sibelius' symphonies.  I am indeed curious about the Maazel/Pittsburgh set, also.  However, I seem to prefer Sibelius on the quick side 'brisk tempos'.  The Maazel/Vienna and Maazel/Pittsburgh sets differ vastly in this regard.  Maybe that is not a bad thing for me, just fearful the differences may be too stark? 

[Jo498]

I am not enthusiastic about the composer, but someone who is recommended Maazel/Pittsburg for the 3rd symphony. At least the middle movement is rather fast, so I don't think the tempi are all slower. (I have not heard the Decca/Vienna recordings, as mentioned, I am not a fan).

[Madiel]

I absolutely cannot stop listening to Symphony No.2. I'm obsessed.

[asin] B0000042GV[/asin]

The first movement just astounds me. It's like an anti-sonata form. All the bits and pieces are there, but it sounds like an introduction... until eventually your brain realises that there isn't a big theme coming along, and that WAS the exposition.

And then there's all the drama of the second movement.

In both movements, the use of space and silence is just amazing.

[Brahmsian]

I absolutely cannot stop listening to Symphony No.2. I'm obsessed.

It is an amazing symphony, isn't it?    I am particularly fond of the opening movement, and the triumphant 4th movement.  Glad you are enjoying it!

[Madiel]

It is an amazing symphony, isn't it?    I am particularly fond of the opening movement, and the triumphant 4th movement.  Glad you are enjoying it!

Well, they're all amazing (although I struggle with a couple of individual movements - not sure how much of it's me, how much of it's Ashkenazy, how much of it's Sibelius). Any time I start listening to the symphonies, I end up deciding that this is one of the greatest cycles of any composer. On a level with Beethoven.

There's actually a book on the Beethoven and Sibelius cycles, making comparisons and drawing parallels, but from what I've seen of a library copy it's extremely analytical and likely to be very heavy going. The kind of thing one could only read a few pages of in each session before one's head would start spinning.

[Brahmsian]

Well, they're all amazing (although I struggle with a couple of individual movements - not sure how much of it's me, how much of it's Ashkenazy, how much of it's Sibelius). Any time I start listening to the symphonies, I end up deciding that this is one of the greatest cycles of any composer. On a level with Beethoven.

Yes, with Sibelius symphonies, I find I'm often changing my mind as to which is my favourite Sibelius symphony.  It's a merry-go-round. 

[vandermolen]

It is only recently that I have learnt to love Symphony No. 2, especially the wonderfully inspiriting finale. My ideal CD coupling is Symphony No. 2 and Tapiola and I have tracked down a couple of CDs which do feature both works.

[North Star]

No. 2 gets so much radio & concert play here in Finland that I would like to stop listening to it occasionally.. Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 & Tapiola I listen to much more often.

[Karl Henning]

My ears definitely required a break from the Second for a good while.  And I am careful to treat it with respect, so that my affection may be undimmed 

[Madiel]

Ah well, as previously mentioned it's about 5 years since I last listened to the Second, before binging in recent days, so I guess I was about ready for it. And for the First last week, which also got multiple listens.

It's the Fifth where I've tended to stumble in the past. I don't know that Ashkenazy is as highly regarded in that one as he is many of the others.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

At first I liked 2nd symphony's 1st and 4th movements best but nowadays I prefer Second movement. It is so immensely powerful and moving.