The Snowshoed Sibelius

[Karl Henning]

Am I nuts or is Hurwitz and all the critics I read?

I am listening to Colin Davis's RCA Third Symphony. It is freaking magnificent.

I've not heard the Davis/BSO recording of the Op.52 . . . but in principle, from those syphonies which I have heard from that set, I might agree that it is "spotty."  But there are those whose ears I respect who feel otherwise.

[Ken B]

I've not heard the Davis/BSO recording of the Op.52 . . . but in principle, from those syphonies which I have heard from that set, I might agree that it is "spotty."  But there are those whose ears I respect who feel otherwise.

Sarge just posted it on Listening. What say you Sarge?

[Sergeant Rock]

Sarge just posted it on Listening. What say you Sarge?

I like the RCA cycle with the LSO--and very much like the Third. It's certainly the equal of his justly admired Boston Third. I do cringe at the timpani disaster in the Fifth's first movement coda. Surely someone at the recording session must have noticed. Why wasn't there another take? Otherwise I think the set a fine one overall and well recorded too. The Kullervo is simply magnificent, my favorite of the 11 I own. Sure, Davis does Brucknerize the first movement--but that's why I love it 

Sarge

[DavidRoss]

In memory of the late Maestro Maazel

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

Dig the groovy specs on Tony, Ray!

Haven't listened much to Sibelius the past couple of years.  Shocked to see he's buried on page 5 of the composer discussion board!  Ah, well, he's in good company with the other JS (Bach), Bax, Villalobos, Strauss, & Schumann.  Thought I'd break out the last Sibelius recording I purchased and give it a spin.  Disc #2 of the aborted Vänskä/Minnesota cycle (pretty good, even if it did win a Grammy).  Let's hope with Osmo driving again in the Twin Cities that there's more of his big band (but brisk!) cycle to come!

(Must ... resist ... compulsion to play Berglund/COE immediately after!)

[Mirror Image]

Has anyone heard Storgards' cycle of the symphonies yet? Would curious to know opinions on this one. May had it to the Christmas wish list.

[Brian]

Has anyone heard Storgards' cycle of the symphonies yet? Would curious to know opinions on this one. May had it to the Christmas wish list.

I listened to parts of it. I remember it generally being very good, with interesting/novel interpretive decisions that had about an 80% success rate (but a couple ideas that just didn't work). For a true Sibelius fan, certainly worth listening and pondering. He leads a typically average orchestra to great heights. Let me see if I can dig up my more detailed post on this cycle.

Found it. Okay, it looks like I only listened to two of the symphonies. Guess I need to hear the rest now!

[Mirror Image]

I listened to parts of it. I remember it generally being very good, with interesting/novel interpretive decisions that had about an 80% success rate (but a couple ideas that just didn't work). For a true Sibelius fan, certainly worth listening and pondering. He leads a typically average orchestra to great heights. Let me see if I can dig up my more detailed post on this cycle.

Found it. Okay, it looks like I only listened to two of the symphonies. Guess I need to hear the rest now!

Thanks, Brian. I have about 18 or 19 Sibelius cycles. I think I'm about done. It seems these performances aren't unique enough to warrant buying another cycle.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Is it fair to a composer to label one work as his BEST work? Probably not. Especially when it's a composer (e.g., Beethoven) whose stockpile of works stretches to the ionosphere.

And honestly I'd never given the idea much thought...until just this evening.

And that's only because of the titanic dissecting job that Haendel/Berglund/Bournemouth have done on Sibelius's violin concerto in the recording below. It's rare for me to find a recording that manages to unlock every single door, window, gate, lid, etc...into a composer's psyche. But that's just what happens here.

With all this "unlocking" going on I get this nagging feeling that somehow pinpointing a single work as a composer's best can actually be an obtainable goal. Although for now one composer at a time is about all I can muster.

So Sibelius's best work = the violin concerto. 

(The Unesco Classics disc is the recording I have licensed from the EMI...and, brother, what glorious sonics here!)







[asin]B000067DNX[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

So Sibelius's best work = the violin concerto.

Not for me. If I had to pick a favorite work it would Symphony No. 4. It's turbulent, but completely bold and genuine in its directness. It also shows a transition from darkness to light and all of the conflicts and confrontations in-between. Truly a masterpiece.

[amw]

It also shows a transition from darkness to light

I have to say this comes across as a bizarre description of the Sibelius 4th. It's more like a transition from darkness to light... to darkness again... to complete insanity... >.>

[Mirror Image]

I have to say this comes across as a bizarre description of the Sibelius 4th. It's more like a transition from darkness to light... to darkness again... to complete insanity... >.>

Well, my description is pretty vague because, for me, it's truly impossible to sum up in words what this masterwork actually sounds like. All I know is I think it's bloody brilliant!

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I have several favorites. It is almost impossible to me to pick one. I appreciate several neglected works of his like Snöfrid or Jungfrun i tornet or many his chamber music works. More popular compositions like violin concerto, symphonies 2 and 6 and Pohjola's daughter are among my favorites as well.

[Brian]

I have to say this comes across as a bizarre description of the Sibelius 4th. It's more like a transition from darkness to light... to darkness again... to complete insanity... >.>

Yeah, to me, the light in Sibelius' Fourth is like when the sky is filled with storm clouds, but way off in a corner you see a tiny patch of sunshine, and then it disappears. That horn call in the first movement has always reminded me of the horn calls in the Fifth.

[Brahmsian]

Tough to single out a masterpiece for Sibelius.  The Violin Concerto certainly would never be a bad choice, in my opinion.

My personal bias brings me to Symphony No. 6.  My more objective choice would be Symphony No. 2 or No. 5, or the Violin Concerto.

[Karl Henning]

My personal bias brings me to Symphony No. 6.

Much as I like so many of his works, my hunger for the Op.104 is never sated.

[Brahmsian]

Much as I like so many of his works, my hunger for the Op.104 is never sated.

+1, mmm, I concur.  Good day, Karl! 

[vandermolen]

Have just realised how good the 'Wood Nymph' is. My other recommendation is the complete Karelia Music (Ondine and BIS):
[asin]B0007IP5OG[/asin]

[mc ukrneal]

Which one is the OP 104?

[Karl Henning]

Which one is the OP 104?

Sixth Symphony, sorry!

[mc ukrneal]

Sixth Symphony, sorry!

Thanks. I tend to read this thread in batches, so I had many peices in mind (from reading all the different works being discussed), but now I realize you were answering a direct comment about that piece. On the other hand, I don't know the Opus numbers for any Sibelius pieces.