The Snowshoed Sibelius

[Madiel]

The only problem I'm having with Sibelius and trying to get some kind of grip on him is his maddening chronology of opuses and trying to tie them together in my own mind in the correct order.

Yes, well, this is why I'm going through the process of writing it out.

www.sibelius.fi  is pretty comprehensive when it comes to setting out original versions, revisions, arrangements and the times when Sibelius was just being a bit of a pain with the numbering (like the Arioso, op.3, which is way out of kilter but I've seen speculation he was trying to pass it off as an early work because he wasn't giving it to his usual publisher!)

The original versions of The Origin of Fire and Impromptu belong between the 1st and 2nd symphonies, if that helps. They just predate the 2nd symphony.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, well, this is why I'm going through the process of writing it out.

www.sibelius.fi  is pretty comprehensive when it comes to setting out original versions, revisions, arrangements and the times when Sibelius was just being a bit of a pain with the numbering (like the Arioso, op.3, which is way out of kilter but I've seen speculation he was trying to pass it off as an early work because he wasn't giving it to his usual publisher!)

The original versions of The Origin of Fire and Impromptu belong between the 1st and 2nd symphonies, if that helps. They just predate the 2nd symphony.

That's a great site! My buddy Karlo (North Star) turned me onto the site which I had no prior knowledge of. It's nicely laid out, too, and if you go through the works like the symphonies for example, the site takes you through the work with audio samples. Very cool!

[vandermolen]

Yes, you'll have Tapiola with that recording of Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7. This tone poems recording is just fantastic. Superb from start to finish.

Have ordered it!

[Karl Henning]

I don't think I'd know what an immature symphony sounds like, but I do know the impact the first symphony had on me when I was nobbut a lad, hearing Sibelius for the first time. Kapow!, it was. The others are wonderful of course, but the first is still my tiptop favourite of the seven, immature or not.

Well, had I been kapowed, that were another matter!

[vandermolen]

Sorry for the late reply, Jeffrey (so many posts to look through these past couple of days). Swanwhite has to be one of Sibelius' most luscious works. Just one gorgeous moment after another. Almost sugary sweet, but there still a chance of frostbite even in this music. Karelia is a fun work. I listened to it several nights ago. Very enjoyable. Will have to make a mental of note of your observations next time I listen to it.

Hello John - I thoroughly enjoyed the lovely 'Swanwhite' which I found on this super Sibelius collection, going very cheaply, second-hand, on Amazon UK. Thanks very much for the recommendation:
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[Madiel]

I've concluded that from about the Violin Concerto (op.47) onwards the opus numbers have some rational basis, maybe as far back as op.41. Occasionally it's tricky with a collection of pieces (eg small piano works) or with incidental music that was refashioned to stand alone, but it's at least possible to see why a number was assigned.

Numbers up to 40 are sometimes accurate, sometimes off by a decade or two.

[Mirror Image]

Hello John - I thoroughly enjoyed the lovely 'Swanwhite' which I found on this super Sibelius collection, going very cheaply, second-hand, on Amazon UK. Thanks very much for the recommendation:
[asin]B000000ARM[/asin]

Have ordered it!

Great to hear, Jeffrey! Yes, that Sakari/Iceland SO recording does look rather like. I may end up buying it at some point. Thanks for the recommendation as well. Happy to hear you enjoyed Swanwhite! It's a gorgeous work.

[Brian]

That new Naxos disc with Leif Segerstam conducting a Sibelius miscellany? It's the first in a 6-volume series "of orchestral works by Jean Sibelius falling outside his symphonies, violin concerto and tone poems." The headliner for Volume 2 (July) will be Belshazzar's Feast. Segerstam will be in charge of the full series. Good complement to his celebrated symphony cycle, I guess!

[Madiel]

That new Naxos disc with Leif Segerstam conducting a Sibelius miscellany? It's the first in a 6-volume series "of orchestral works by Jean Sibelius falling outside his symphonies, violin concerto and tone poems." The headliner for Volume 2 (July) will be Belshazzar's Feast. Segerstam will be in charge of the full series. Good complement to his celebrated symphony cycle, I guess!

Ooh. Well that might fill my library nicely.

[Mirror Image]

That new Naxos disc with Leif Segerstam conducting a Sibelius miscellany? It's the first in a 6-volume series "of orchestral works by Jean Sibelius falling outside his symphonies, violin concerto and tone poems." The headliner for Volume 2 (July) will be Belshazzar's Feast. Segerstam will be in charge of the full series. Good complement to his celebrated symphony cycle, I guess!

Wow! Six volumes?!?!? Sounds awesome! I can't wait. Of course, I'll be collecting them all as Segerstam is one my favorite Sibelians.

[TheGSMoeller]

Bernstein's Sibelius. Mainly the DG series with Vienna. What say you bunch of the Snowshoed?
I've been rediscovering this mini-cycle, all four symphonies are superbly performed, but the 2nd is as majestic as they come. I don't think I've heard the 2nd so grand. It really is exhilarating.

[Mirror Image]

I really need to give Bernstein's DG partial cycle another listen as it's been years. I love his cycle on Columbia (Sony), so it will be interesting to hear how his approach has changed.

I actually own the Bernstein DG Sibelius in this incarnation:

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[vandermolen]

The Vanska BIS CD of symphonies 6,7 and Tapiola is indeed sensational in all respects. These are as fine a version as I have heard of all three works.

[Mirror Image]

The Vanska BIS CD of symphonies 6,7 and Tapiola is indeed sensational in all respects. These are as fine a version as I have heard of all three works.

Thumbs up, Jeffrey. Indeed, sensational performances.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

And now I am once again love with 5th. That swan theme's golden glow is glorious in the last movement. The Bard doesn't sound bad, either. Strange how easily I change my mind. Maybe it's the recording that counts.

[Mirror Image]

And now I am once again love with 5th. That swan theme's golden glow is glorious in the last movement. The Bard doesn't sound bad, either. Strange how easily I change my mind. Maybe it's the recording that counts.

Good to hear and I never thought The Bard sounded bad. I take it you did?

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Good to hear and I never thought The Bard sounded bad. I take it you did?

Well, not bad but it was for a long time the only tone poem by Sibelius that I didn't consider particularly impressive. I was baffled by how it didn't really seem to go anywhere. But I no longer consider that a bad attribute and I may have been mistaken, in any case. I may have listened to a bad recording, my taste may have improved, or maybe I hadn't listened to it often enough. Whatever the reasons, I like it considerably more now.

[vandermolen]

Thumbs up, Jeffrey. Indeed, sensational performances.

And thanks for your recommendation John. Although I know these works so well I was riveted from the opening of Symphony 6.

[Mirror Image]

And thanks for your recommendation John. Although I know these works so well I was riveted from the opening of Symphony 6.

You're welcome, Jeffrey. I knew these symphonies incredibly well before ever venturing into the Vanska cycle, but Vanska certainly helped cement my love of these symphonies.

[Moonfish]

Many people prefer Maazel's Vienna cycle to his Pittsburgh one, but I'm not completely onboard with either cycle. I may need to plan a revisit of the Vienna one. What other cycles do you own, Peter?

Yes, I have yet to get a feel for Maazel's recordings overall. He seems to have a reputation for being uneven. I am curious about his early recordings on DG. Have you heard any of those recordings? Sibelius: If I recall correctly the Pittsburgh cycle is a bit glacial for me, but some listeners argue that it brings out new aspects in the music. Perhaps Maazel's Pittsburgh cycle is the Celibidache version of Sibelius?  At this point I prefer the Wiener Philharmoniker cycle out of the two.  In terms of Sibelius cycles - way too many at about 15/16, but few compared to your 25 cycles (or is it 26 now?  ).  In my mind Lahti/Vänskä rules although I would like to hear the Minnesota recordings (1/4 & 2/5).      Still, it is hard to choose among so many great cycles (as I am sure you are well aware).