Sibelius: Finlandia and Pelleas et Melisande

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Herbert von Karajan gave some first-rate Sibelius performances in the course of his long career, and these are two of the finest. The suite of incidental music from Pelleas is particularly successful. Sibelius's score, as befits the understated and dreamy mood of the play, is very subtle, but also quite beautiful. It's the kind of thing the Karajan always did well, since the music really responds to such lovely playing and sheet beauty of sound. Finlandia, of course, merely needs a good, rousing blast from the brass to make its proper effect, and Karajan delivers the goods. The other works are both well-done, making this a desirable collection if the couplings appeal to you. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Vltava: Vltava - The Moldau
Finlandia: Finlandia Op.26
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: I. At The Castle Gate. Grave e largamente
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: II. Melisande: Andantino con moto
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: IIa. By The Sea. Adagio
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: III. By A Spring In The Park. Comodo
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: IV. The Three Blind Sisters. Tranquillo
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: V. Pastorale: Andantino pastorale
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: VI. Melisande At The Spinning Wheel. Con moto
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: VII. Entracte. Intermezzo: Allegro
Pelleas et Melisande Op.46: VIII. Melisande's Death. Andante
Les Preludes

Amazon.com

Herbert von Karajan gave some first-rate Sibelius performances in the course of his long career, and these are two of the finest. The suite of incidental music from Pelleas is particularly successful. Sibelius's score, as befits the understated and dreamy mood of the play, is very subtle, but also quite beautiful. It's the kind of thing the Karajan always did well, since the music really responds to such lovely playing and sheet beauty of sound. Finlandia, of course, merely needs a good, rousing blast from the brass to make its proper effect, and Karajan delivers the goods. The other works are both well-done, making this a desirable collection if the couplings appeal to you. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Karajan superb in a piece that deserves to be better known .......2006-03-14

The centrepiece of this CD is Sibelius' Pelleas and Mellisande, written as incidental music for a Finnish theatre production. UK readers will recognise the first movement as the theme from 'The Sky at Night'.

Karajan did much to promote Sibelius, and this is a fantastic rendition of his most neglected masterpiece, full of ravishing broody chords in the string section and haunting brass.

Finlandia, on the other hand is one of his best known pieces, and this is a rendition with lots of of energy and flowing forward movement.

The CD is topped and tailed with Smetana's Vltava and Liszt's Preludes, which fit well. The Preludes is a particularly lovely recording.

All and all this is a lovely collection from Karajan and the Berlin Phil in stunning form. If you like Sibelius's symponies and shorter tone poems you'll enjoy this.

P & M swim the Moldau while whistling preludes.......2004-12-08

As he so often did, Karajan homogenizes these works to the point where everything sounds the same. Beautiful, but the same. These pieces may not be at the pinnacle of classical music, but the Moldau in particular deserves a lot better than this. Look further.

Absolutely First Rate.......2004-06-04

All of these are polished perfomanced with extremely fine balances..this is one of the finest Moldau recordings ever! Obviously Karajan still can stir controversy which is why these performances are hard to ignore...listen to the incredible blend and you will know you are in for something special. Even Karajan can make the Valse Triste of Sibelius something better then it really is...!!!

Good, but not best.......2001-09-28

In works which required a depth of thought, Karajan was in a class of his own as an interpreter. In works that did not plumb these depths of thought, Karajan seemed detached and uninvolved. He is not as distinctive in this beautiful set of tone poems by Smetana, glorifying the Czech countryside and spirit. When such illuminating versions exist by Rafael Kubelik and Zdenek Macal, Karajan by comparison does not give the music freedom. It is the hard truth for Karajan collectors, myself included.

A wonderful collection.......2001-03-30

Herbert Von Karajan's recording of these famous compositions by Smetana, Sibelius and Liszt is excellent. This Deutsche Grammophon 1983 issue is one of the few Karajan DDD discs that I own, but it rates as one of my favorites.

Smetana's Vltava (The Moldau) is wonderfully conducted. Under Karajan's direction, the Vltava sounds both idyllic and majestic. Sibelius's Finlandia, another landmark composition, receives equal treatment under the German conductor. Karajan's translation of Sibelius's famous piece is somber yet bold. He also provides a solid and enjoyable rendition of Sibelius's Pelleas et Melisande. And Karajan's interpretation of Liszt's Les Preludes is equally enjoyable. While Liszt didn't write many epic compositions for orchestra, this particular tome poem certainly ranks as one of his most exciting pieces. And in Karajan's hands, its power and beauty have been seamlessly intertwined.

This DG compilation is a great disc, and at a bargain price, it is definitely worth owning. The DG sound quality is first rate as expected, and the Berliner Philharmoniker under Karajan once again turns in another exciting, vibrant performance. For people unfamiliar with the three composers on this disc, this is a great place to start. This disc brings together their most famous works, and under Karajan they each sound great.

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