Finlandia / Tapiola

Track Listings

1. Finlandia Op. 26 Tondichtung (Tone-Poem)

2. Der Schwan Von Tuonela Op. 22 No. 2 (The Swan Of Tuonela)

3. Valse Triste Op. 44

4. Tapiola Op. 112 Tondichtung (Tone-Poem)

Tracks:

Finlandia, Op. 26
The Swan of Tuonela, Op.22 No. 2
Lemminkainen's Return, Op. 22 No. 4
Valse Triste, Op. 44
The Oceanides, Op. 73 - Helenski Philharmonia Orchestra
Tapiola, Op.112

Customer Reviews:

A Fine Bargain!.......2007-03-27

A marvelously performed and warmly recorded compilation of favorite Sibelius tone poems from one of the late 20th Century's foremost conductors of Sibelius...and it's dirt cheap! I can no more adequately describe the Romantic "chilly warmth" of this dramatic music than I could live above the Arctic Circle; there's no other music quite like it. It took me until I lived over twenty years in Northern Michigan to warm up to it, then its appeal became obvious -- go figure.

life is beautiful. loud. multifaceted,nuanced and cheap........2001-10-09

its the last thing to consider in buying music, really but look at how much sellers want for this CD. Then consider the conductor Paavo Berglund, a man with an ear for detail. His almost consistently perfect sense of timing and balance bring you the best tapiola I've heard, compared with Karajan, Davis, Jaarvi, Beecham, et al. phantasmagorical. crank your bass up for the swan (track 2), you'll find the neighborhood flora leaning towards the house in a reverie of past-life deja vu. Its full-on romanticism, no worries about period shmeriod, proper this or that.just SOUND. If passion and tumult are the hallmarks of these craggy pieces, we are incredibly well served by the Philharmonia (mostly here) upon pressing play. modern life has its quirks.

My first classical music.......2000-08-03

This is probaly the first real introduction to classical music I've had outside the usual Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Bach. I've fallen in love with the drama that plays through the tracks on this album. The music moves through countless moods. Definately worth your time!

Average customer rating:

THE Sibelius set...
Outstanding performances
An Introduction to Sibelius
WONDERFUL SOUND!
Hype and reality

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies 2

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies 1
Schumann: The 4 Symphonies
Nielsen: Symphonies no 4-6 / Blomstedt, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
Dvorák: The Symphonies

ASIN: B0000041BW
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In C, Opus 52: 1. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 3 In C, Opus 52: 2. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
Symphony No. 3 In C, Opus 52: 3. Moderato - Allegro. Ma non tanto
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor, Opus 104: 1. Allegro molto moderato
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor, Opus 104: 2. Allegretto moderato
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor, Opus 104: 3. Poco vivace
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor, Opus 104: 4. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 7 In C, Opus 105: Adagio -
Symphony No. 7 In C, Opus 105: Vivacissimo - Adagio -
Symphony No. 7 In C, Opus 105: Allegro molto moderato - Allegro moderato -
Symphony No. 7 In C, Opus 105: Vivace - Presto - Adagio - Largamente molto -
Symphony No. 7 In C, Opus 105: Affettuoso

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In D Minor, Opus 47: 1. Allegro moderato
Violin Concerto In D Minor, Opus 47: 2. Adagio di molto
Violin Concerto In D Minor, Opus 47: 3. Allegro, ma non tanto
Finlandia, Opus 26
Tapiola, Opus 112: Tone Poem
The Swan of Tuonela, Opus 22 No. 2: Legend

Amazon.com essential recording

It was clever of Philips to couple Sibelius's least popular symphonies with the extremely popular Violin Concerto and tone poems. Don't let the words "least popular" scare you off, however. If you like Sibelius, you'll love the Third and Sixth Symphonies. The latter, in particular, is one of the most purely beautiful pieces of music in the history of sound; its only flaw is a quiet ending that makes conductors unwilling to play it at live concerts. Sir Colin Davis and the Boston Symphony perform all of this music with idiomatic flair and unflagging enthusiasm. These versions are far superior to Davis's recent remakes on RCA, and a lot cheaper too. So go ahead, indulge. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

THE Sibelius set..........2006-12-05

Sir Colin Davis has been known as a supreme Sibelius conductor for over 30 years now and this(his first complete cycle with the Boston Symphony Orchestra)is a perfect example of why. Davis gets into the heart of these works and shows why I consider Sibelius to be my favorite overall symphonist. These pieces all have an icy, lonely, quality that I've never heard from any other composer. No doubt part of this sound was highly influenced by the desolate landscape of his native Finland and one can almost feel the mountains and fjords when listening.

The symphonies on this set are basically perfect. Not to discredit his awesome first two, but Symphony no. 3 was his first truly innovative work and an unbelievably memorable and enjoyable piece. The 6th and 7th were his last two symphonies and perhaps his greatest. The richly melodic and inventive 6th is my personal favorite Sibelius work. The 7th is another standout for its unusual single movement structure and epic sound despite its sort length.

I'm usually not a huge fan of concertos in general, and the violin has never been my favorite instrument(I vastly prefer cello or piano), but Sibelius' violin concerto is an unbelievable work. There's no fancy showing off just for the sake of virtuosity here, although this piece does require a top-notch player. It's a bleak and chilling concerto and the orchestra shimmers right along side of the voilin. Admittedly this is the only version of this work I've head, but I was very very impressed. The second disc concludes impressively with 'Findlandia', 'Tapiola', and 'The Swan of Tuonela'- The three most popular Sibelius tone poems.

Philips deserves much credit here for pairing the least popular Sibelius symphonies with a second disc that includes some of his most popular works. Not only does this work perfectly to fill up each disc, but it should hopefully also introduce some hesitant fans to three awesome and neglected symphonies.

Outstanding performances.......2006-11-21

In the 1970s Colin Davis and the Boston Symphony Orchestra recorded a complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies, as well as the violin concerto and a few of the tone poems. A number of the live performances before the recording sessions were broadcast on PBS. The Davis cycle was generally regarded as one of the best available at that time, although the recorded sound was considered below Philips' usual high standard.

As it happens, the performances collected in Vol. 2 are among the stronger in the series. The two weakest performances--the Second and the Fourth--are in Vol. 1. If you're just getting to know Symphonies 3, 6, and 7, these are thoughtful, well-shaped, well-played performances with a strong feeling for the Sibelius sound world. Tempo relationships are reasonable. Davis doesn't rush the (apparently) faster music after the slow opening of the Sixth Symphony, a key point for those of us who love this symphony. A big plus is the violin concerto with Salvatore Accardo. There may be fierier or more virtuosic performances, but Davis makes the orchestra an equal partner. If you like the violin concerto treated as an additional Sibelius symphony, and I do, you'll like this interpretation.

Considering Vols. 1 and 2 of the Davis cycle together, I'd rate them superior to the Maazel/Vienna, but below the Berglund cycle, simply because none of Berglund's performances is as misconceived as the Davis Fourth. If you're looking for the specific works in Vol. 2, I wouldn't hesitate to get the Davis.

An Introduction to Sibelius.......2005-11-22

The music of Jean Sibelius (1865 --1957) has enjoyed a varied reputation over the years, but it today is held in deservedly high regard. His seven symphonies, in their varied forms, are classics of the Twentieth Century.

I have lived for several years with Sir Colin Davis' recordings of Sibelius with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Davis is an acknowledged master of this music. The recordings date from 1975 -- 1979 and are currently available on two "duo" CD sets from Phillips. Davis later recorded the cycle again and a third version is in process. But the Boston Symphony compilation is highly accessible and modestly priced. If you are looking for an introduction to the essential works of Sibelius, this set is for you.

I supplemented my recent listening to this music by reading the accounts of each of Sibelius' symphonies in Michael Steinberg's excellent reference book : "The Symphony a Listener's Guide" (1995). I also have read the account of the violin concerto in Steinberg's parallel guide to the standard concerto repertory. Listeners wanting a more detailed discussion of the symphonies and concerto than that found in most liner notes, including the notes for this set, will greatly benefit from reading Steinberg.

This CD opens with Sibelius' symphony no. 3 in C major composed in 1904. This is a three-movement work in which the composer finds fully his own voice. The work is spare and neoclassical in style, written with both energy and restraint. The first movement opens with a brisk, characteristic theme for cello and bass. The second movement is intermezzo-like, with rhythmic ambiguity and a lovely singing theme as it progresses. The finale is in two parts with ever-changing tempos and moods leading to a final climax at the end.

The symphony no. 6 in D, opus 104 dates from 1923 and has always been my favorite of the Sibelius symphonies. As Steinberg points out, much of this symphony is written in the Dorian mode (on the piano this consists of playing all the white keys beginning on D) giving the music an etherial and remote character. The scoring of this work is also unusual with Sibelius using a harp and a bass clarinet, both of which add a great deal of color to the orchestration. Although this symphony is in the standard four-movements it is far from traditional, as the music is weightless, enigmatic, and mysterious. It is restrained in tone and ends very softly after a remarkably beautiful theme in the strings. The sixth is a highly idiosyncratic work.

Sibelius' completed his final symphony, no. 7 in C in 1924. This is a work of only about 21 minutes in what is nominally a single movement. But in its short space, the symphony moves through a variety of tempos and moods, all tightly unified and flowing from one section to the next. Some hear the work in five sections while others hear it in three. Many critics have noted that "The Seventh Symphony consummates the nineteenth-century search for symphonic unity". (Steinberg, page 607, quoting Robert Layton.) The work opens with a long slow section based upon a drum-tap and an ascending scale and concludes with a loud, triumphant chord in the brass on C major. This is tightly-written yet romantic and passionate music that will repay many listenings. Even though Sibelius lived more than 30 years after completing this work, he composed no more symphonies.

This CD also includes Sibelius' violin concerto in D minor opus 47 which the composer wrote in 1903 and revised in 1905. This work has at least found its place in the standard concert repertory. (It was recently programmed a few weeks apart in my area by the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. and by the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in suburban Virginia.) The work is performed here by Salvatore Accardo with Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. The violin concerto differs from Sibelius' symphonic writing in that it is unabashedly and passionately romantic in character and a crushingly difficult, virtuoso piece for the soloist. The first movement includes a long, famous and showy cadenza followed by a long meditative slow movement and a lively, icy finale. This is one of the finest twentieth-century violin concertos and worthy to stand with its great nineteenth century predecessors.

The CD closes with three of Sibelius' shorter works for orchestra including his most familiar work, "Finlandia" , composed in 1899, which for some years was the only work of the composer to get a hearing. It also includes the long tone-poem "Tapiola", one of the composer's last important works and written after the seventh symphony. But the highlight of these last three works is "The Swan of Tuneola" opus 22, which includes an inimitable solo for the English Horn performed here by Laurence Thorstenborg.

This CD and its companion are ideal ways to get to know the music of Sibelius.

Robin Friedman

WONDERFUL SOUND!.......2005-09-15

The orchestra here sounds so vast and powerful--but also it carries a mellowness, a smoothness. Fantastic listening!
It's a bit like the gutsy sound of Beethoven melded with the easy sound of Faure's choral stuff. Can't say enough about this!

Hype and reality.......2005-07-03

I recently bought the Sibelius Volumes 1 and 2 in 2-in-1 sets. I wont comment on the artistic content as they are covered in others reviews of this page. The sound quality of Vol 2 is decidedly degraded - almost unlistenable - compared to the much much higher quality of Volume 1 (with magnificient artistry). The transfers are AAD on the Phillips label which, like DGG, of the 1970's are not meant for better quality music systems (even of that period) and unless remastered disappoint the listener. It is possible that reissues for this particular packaging could be faulty or may be that the repackaging is so cleverly done that all the goodies are on Volume 1 and the second-best on the second. Davis is redoing the Sibelius Synphonies with LSO and that may account for the rush to get this set out of the way!

Average customer rating:

More Great Sibelius from GSO/Jarvi
Tons of Great Sibelius, All Very Well Done
a perfect introduction to sibelius

Sibelius: Tone Poems

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Tchaikovsky Symphonic Poems / Manfred Symphony
Sibelius: The Symphonies [Hybrid SACD]
Finlandia and Other Tone Poems in Full Score
Tchaikovsky: 18 Pieces
Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

ASIN: B0009W4LLI
Release Date: 2005-08-09

Tracks:

I. Intermezzo. Moderato
II. Ballade. Tempo Di Menuetto-Un Poco Piu Lento
III. Alla Marcia. Moderato
Tempo Moderato - Soile Isokoski
Andante Festivo For String Orchestra
Sostenuto Assai
Nocturne. Molto Moderato
I. Elegie. Andante Sostenuto
II. Musette. Allegretto
Serenade. Moderato Assai (Quasi Menuetto)
Ballade. Allegro Molto-Vivace
Andante Sostenuto-Allegro Moderato-Allegro

Tracks:

Largo-Allegro
Allegro-Tempo Del Commincio-Moderato Assai-Largamente-Largo
Allegro Molto Moderato
Andante Molto Sostenuto
Il Tempo Largamente
Allegro Con Fuoco

Tracks:

Moderato Assai-Allegro
Tempo Moderato E Sostenuto
Lento
Scene With Cranes Op.44 No.2
Andantino
Commodo
Lento Assai
Largamente-Allegro Moderato

Customer Reviews:

More Great Sibelius from GSO/Jarvi.......2006-06-02

I recently purchased this 3-disc set new for about 18 bucks, including shipping and handling. Each disc has over 70 mins of music. More importantly, the performances are evocative and highly emotional. The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (of Sweden, for those of you who might not know this) and Neeme Jarvi did a terrific job on the Sibelius Symphonies for the BIS label in the 80s. I have 'em all, and they are my favorite cycle.

These are more recent recordings done by Deutche Grammaphon, with somewhat different engineering, but equally satisfying sound (to me, at least). Purchasing this "Trio" was almost a no-brainer, given the price. Now that I have the set in hand (and in CD-player), I know that it was a good decision.

Whether you know nothing about Sibelius but want to hear terrific classical music-making, or you have some Sibelius and would like to hear some arguably definitive performance of the tone poems, this set is for you.

Enjoy, Adam.

Tons of Great Sibelius, All Very Well Done.......2006-05-23

I may be in a minority, but I think Sibelius is a far more successful composer of program music than of so-called absolute music. In fact, his most successful symphony, No. 2, has a definite program, and his most successful symphonic movement, the marvelous finale of Symphony No. 5, is also pictorial, supposedly inspired by a flight of geese and the bell-like music that their calls made as they passed overhead. So I believe these generously filled discs in the Trio Series present some of the best of orchestral Sibelius, including "Pohjola's Daughter," "En Saga," "The Oceanides," and "Tapiola." There are other favorites as well, of course, including "Finlandia," "Valse Triste," and "The Swan of Tuonela" (part of the spacious "Four Legends"), as well as some lesser-known (to non-Sibelians, anyway) masterworks such as "Luonnotar" and "Night Ride and Sunrise," a quirky, more interesting incarnation of the binary form that Sibelius tried out in the finale of his Third Symphony.

There's still more and more, including some music (such as "King Christian" and "The Bard") that is rarely heard but well worth hearing. In fact, if there are any clunkers here, I don't know of them. Sibelius emerges as a composer who rarely failed when inspired by literature, especially his beloved Kalevala, or the purely pictorial. Neemi Jarvi, whose baton is sometimes too fleet and whose interpretations sometimes skate along the surface of the music, is here inspired to give some of his finest interpretations (and there are many, many on CD). The Goteborg Orchestra has this music in its blood and proves the perfect medium for the dark vision of "The Four Legends," for the shimmer and sheen of "The Oceanides," or for the easy folksiness of "Karelia" and "King Christian." Fine, wide-ranging sound from DG as well. It's up-front but not oppressive, allowing woodwind and percussion detail to emerge with real clarity. Try "Night Ride and Sunrise" as an example; it's rarely sounded this alive in recording.

a perfect introduction to sibelius.......2006-02-18

this is a great set of Sibelius's work. There are some of unknown as as well known pieces. I recommend this work to introduce people to Sibelius and Sibelian's as well. neeme jarvi is a master interpreter of Sibelius work and the orchestra is brillent.

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies & Tone Poems

Average customer rating:

5 stars for the syms
Beautiful and comprehensive compilation of Sibelius works
excellent collection
A must for Sibelius lovers
A terrific and near-perfect set

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies & Tone Poems

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies
Strauss: Orchestral Works
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Liszt: Works for Piano and Orchestra
Symphonies 1-3 / Piano Concerto 1-4 / Isle of Dead

ASIN: B00005MIZT
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

I: Andante, Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Energico
II: Andante (Ma Non Troppo Lento)
III: Scherzo: Allegro
IV: Finale (Quasi Una Fantasia): Andante - Allegro Molto
I: Allegretto
II: Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato
III: Vivacissimo - Lento E Suave - Tempo Primo - Largamente -
IV: Finale: Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andantino Con Moto, Quasi Allegretto
III: Moderato - Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)
I: Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio
II: Allegro Molto Vivace - Doppio Piu Lento
III: Il Tempo Largo
IV: Allegro

Tracks:

I: Tempo Molto Moderato - Largamente - Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto
III: Allegretto Molto - Un Pochettino Largamente
I: Allegro Molto Moderato
II: Allegretto Moderato - Poco Con Moto
III: Poco Vivace
IV: Allegro Molto - Allegro Assai - Doppio Piu Lento

Tracks:

Adagio -
Un Pochettino Meno Adagio - Vivacissimo -
Poco Rallentando Al Adagio - Allegro Molto Moderato - Allegro Moderato - Vivace -
Presto - Adagio - Largamente Molto - Affettuoso
Cantata: Oma Maa, Op.92: 'Our Own Land'
Tulen Synty, Op.32: The Origin Of Fire

Tracks:

I: Introductione: Allegro Moderato
II: Kullervo's Youth: Grave
III: Kullervo And His Sister: Allegro Vivace
IV: Kullervo Goes To Battle: Alla Marcia
V: Kullervo's Death: Andante

Tracks:

The Oceanides, Op.73
I: Intermezzo
III: Alla Marcia
I: All'overtura: Grave - Allegro/II: Scena: Tempo Di Menuetto - Allegro Moderato/III: Festivo: Tempo Di Bolero
Tapiola, Op.112
Finlandia, Op.26
Serenade No.1 in D, Op.69a
Serenade No.2 in g, Op.69b (Lento Assai)

Tracks:

Luonnotar, Op.70
Pohjola's Daughter, Op.49
En Saga, Op.9
I. Nocturne
II. Elegie
III. Musette
IV. Serenade
V. Ballade
The Bard, Op.64

Tracks:

Spring Song, Op.16
III. The Swan Of Tuonela
IV. Lemminkainen's Return
I. At The Castle Gate
II. Melisande
IIa. By The Seashore
III. A Spring In The Park
IV. The Three Blind Sisters
V. Pastorale
VI. Melisande At The Spinning-wheel
VII. Entr'acte
VIII. The Death Of Of Melisande
Valse Triste
Scene With Cranes
II. The Harp
III. The Maidens With Roses
IV. Listen, The Robin Sings
VI. Swanwhite And The Prince

Customer Reviews:

5 stars for the syms.......2006-03-18

with the Helsinki
3 Stars for the Bourgemouth on the poems.
But truth be told, no matter how EMPHATIC statements that his syms are not programmatic, that is fall into a logical step by step order, they are just that, very predictible.
I've given these syms 30 yrs, and lately I've lost interest.
While Schonberg, Berg, Webern, Varese were scoring creative new atonal/poloytonal works of new genius, here was Sibelius struggling with old forms, that fail to deliver anything really new. And he knew it, and bothered him to no end.
I feel there is way too much Beethoven/Bruckner(I like neither) influence in the syms for me to become a fan of the syms. I like the 1st sym "somewhat" that is I never listen to it, and small parts of the 4-7 syms. But I'm afraid I only like Sibelius pre 1905, the Kullervo, VC, tone poems. Here is where the genius of Sibelius truly lies.
The syms long ago held some interest, but lately i've moved on to Schnittke and Pettersson.
I also much prefer Vaughan Wialliams syms to all of Sibelius.
Sibelius was a genius in his element, that of representing the folk ideas of his land. His syms are like a string of ideas that lack the connective passages. IOW the whole is less than the few interesting parts.

Beautiful and comprehensive compilation of Sibelius works.......2005-09-29

For me, this has been the year of Sibelius. Previously, I had listened to (and enjoyed) Finlandia. I also had a couple of the symphonies but hadn't listened too them but once or twice. After listening to Finlandia again, I decided to seek out more SIbelius to sample. After some searching through reviews, I settled upon this compilation of works because it offered a large variety of Sibelius and seemed to be well-received. I have been very happy with this purchase! Not only have I spent countless hours listening to each of the 8 disks in this set, the enjoyment of the music has led me to many other wonderful performances of Sibelius by other worthy conductors such as Ashkenazy and Vanska. Still, this boxed set will always be fondly remembered as the one that introduced me to the wonders of so many of these pieces.

I was immediately captured by the haunting clarinet solo that begins the first symphony. All of the symphonies, performed by the Helsinki Orchestra, are recorded in very clear digital sound -- so the solo and the pecussion accompanyment were perfectly captured. I was hooked by the first symphony, but all of the symphonies are presented clearly and with outstanding interpretations. The Helsinki Philharmonic has always had a strong affiliation with Sibelius's music, and Paavo Berglund is a renowned Sibelius conductor who has recorded three separate symphony cycles (once with the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra, the 2nd time with these recordings, and a third time with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe). The commitment felt by the conductor and orchestra comes through in these performances.

In addition to the complete symphony cycle, there are a number of other treasures. A fine version of Finlandia is accompanied by a number of truly delightful tone poems such as Tapiola, the haunting Swan of Tuonela and Lemminkainen's Return (from the Lemminkainen Suite). These tone poems were inspired by the Finnish Kalevala. Other tone poems such as the Oceanides and Spring Song were inspired by Sibelius's love of nature. All receive strong performances by Berglund conducting the Bournemouth Symphony (in analog sound that is still quite good). The violin serenades (especially no. 2) were unexpected delights. The version of Kullervo is magnificent, as is the singing in Luonnotar and Oma maa. This set is a treasure trove of Sibelius treats!

excellent collection.......2004-06-28

This box set includes Sibelius' all symphonies, with Kullervo and his almost complete tone poems. The Symphonies are performed by Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Kullervo and tone poems with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. All of them conducted by Paavo Berglund, who always a champion on performer of Sibelius.

Even so there are his incidental musics: Pelleas et Melisande, Swanwhite, Kuolema and King Christian II.
Especially Pelleas and Kuolema (which includes ever famous Valse triste) are the most beautifuls. Pelleas et Melisande is a very impressive music, and the best "Pelleas" music with Debussy's Pelleas (opera).

Kullervo is symphony-cantata for two soloists, men-chorus and orchestra, which be constitued in 5 movements, comparable in artistically with Mahler's 2nd Symphony "Resurrection". Especially the last movement "Kullervo's Death" is very effective, pathetique.

And one more a vocal work, a tone poem for soprano and orchestra: Lounnutar. This is based on Kalevala again, and Luonnotar is creator of nature in this poem. It is a very radical work, like his darkful 4th Symphony and The Bard. I think, The Bard is one of the best works of the composer, with it's harmonis, dark colours, contemplative mood. Still, this was written in tragic E-flat minor. It is based on a mythologic creature which plays an harp, like lyre in Greek mythology. And in the last minutes there is a dramatic climax and then music slowly fades out.

And there is the best Tapiola recording, I've ever heard (with Petri Sakari's version at Naxos). This is based on Kalevala, again. Tapio is the name of the forest god, according story. There are very impressive contrasts between hypnotic, a little hesitated, light colours and dramatic darkful colours. The orchestration is marvellous again. Especially, in last minutes there is a terrific storm scene and it's very spine chilling. Climaxes (which played by brass) are very powerful...

This is a very good addition to collectors of Sibelius fans and any classical music lovers. Highly recommended.

A must for Sibelius lovers.......2003-01-07

Jean Sibelius is one of those composers who I feel that even on his off days he did well. While I certainly can't say I enjoy all of his music enough to buy (Sacaramouche for instance), most of his music is highly pleasureful. All of the pieces on this set, conducted by Paavo Berglund, save maybe one or two, are part of the later catagory.

This set consists of most of Sibelius's major orchestral music, with the notible exceptions of Night Ride and Subrise, the first two sections of the Lemmenkainen Suite, and the Violin Concerto. It also contains such rarities as Origin of Fire, Our Own Land, and excepts from Swan White.

Berglund, I believe, was the first to fully record a complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies. The recordings here are not from his first set (which I have not heard), but the second cycle recorded in the mid-80s. The symphonies and two canatas mentioned above are recorded in digital, while the rest is analog. It's all in very good sound, though not perfect. That they wanted to keep the D and A recodings on seperate discs is the only possible reason I can see for why they left out the Violin Concerto (there's plenty of room on disc 4).

Now of course, contents are one thing, but what really matters is performance. And suffice it to say, they for the most part shine. This has easily the finest Symphony 1 I've heard, and the finale of Symphony 5 (truly one of the greatest works of the 20th century) shines with brillance. Symphony 3 makes its mark nicely, and Symphony 2, while perhaps a bit on the fast side, is certainly up to par. The only disappointment is Symphony 7, which falls totally flat compared to Davis/BSO.

The two cantatas are wonderful rarities, but its disc 5 where the choral aspect is full played out -- Kullervo. If you've never heard this piece, it's a 75 minute long programatic symphony (to use to term losely) with many ups and downs. This was the first ever recording, and most say it hasn't been topped.

The final three discs contain shorter works. Especially noteable are the absolutely beautiful Serenade #2 for Violin and Orchestra, the hauntingly lovely Luonnotar, a very rousing version of Lemminkainen's Return, and a passionate Pelleas and Mellsande.

Of course, it's almost impossible to have this big a set without some disapointments. Beyond the aformentioned Symphony 7, there's also not overly convincing Finlandia, and a WAY too slow Karelia Intermezzo. Thankfully, the rest of the set makes up for it. It's a great deal at only about $7 a disc retail, and if you're like me, on you'll keep coming back to.

A terrific and near-perfect set.......2002-04-05

This release couples Berglund's classic Bournemouth recordings of the Kullervo Symphony and a host of tone poems with his most recent cycle of the Symphonies.

The Bournemouth recordings are legendary, especially the Kullervo, which belongs in every classical music library. There is a real warmth to these readings, which charms me into letting the minor flaws in playing pass. The sound is pretty good, though slightly muddy at times (particularly in Tapiola), and the selections have been excellently remastered.

The Symphonies, recorded with the Helsinki Philharmonic in superb digital sound, are a real peak in the discography. Berglund doesn't play his Sibelius lukewarm; his readings are sharp, neo-classical and very powerful. You won't confuse these recordings with those of Colin Davis to be sure. Very comparable to Maazel's earlier readings with the Vienna Philharmonic, but with less over-dramatization. His First, Second, Third, Sixth and Seventh are as good as any, and his reading of the Fourth, while rather bleak for my taste (I like the idea of some kind of softening at the end) is a coherent vision, almost harsh in it's execution.

I really like Maazel's Pittsburgh Fifth, and Berglund's recording in no way comes close to Maazel's splendor or power as a total conception. But, Berglund's middle movement is the best I've heard by far; the obsessively repeated melody seems to weave in and out of the orchestral fabric very seductively. Berglund's knack for architecture is spot on here.

Customer Reviews:

Nordic Drama and Karajan's BPO....a winning combination........2003-10-06

For those already familiar with the performances contained in this DG "2-fer", you're either a Karajan fan or you're not. The magic and sweep of the Berlin Philharmonic's strings under Karajan's baton were its signature. Not the best tool for edgy and angular 20th century repetoire, but for Karajan's core recordings of Early-, Mid-, and Late-Romantic scores--plus a key group of 20th century specialties--the BPO was practically unmatched in their suavity, virtuosity, sheen and beauty. Such was the case with his readings of Sibelius and Grieg anthologized here, with recordings ranging from mid-60s analogue sources to his digital era of the 1980s.

The 96/24 digital remastering has been largely successful in softening the glare and hardness of the 80s digital efforts while preserving their tremendous impact and presence...witness the noticeable improvement in the Grieg "Holberg Suite" and the Sibelius "Pelleas." In both cases, there's more "air" around the orchestra as recorded in the notoriously difficult acoustic of the Philharmonie. Likewise, the earlier analogue sources gain in a sharpening of focus and punch, while retaining the attractive ambience of the Jesus-Christus Kirche recording venue used by the BPO througout the 60s and early 70s. Tape hiss is well-managed and unobtrusive, while still permitting the percussion to sparkle and string harmonics to shimmer, as in the Grieg "Peer Gynt" selections and "Sigurd Jorsalfar" suite, plus a rightly acclaimed reading of Sibelius' chilling "Tapiola."

In sum, then, a good introduction to Karajan's art with Grieg and Sibelius. Likewise, seek out the DG "Originals" 2-fer of Sibelius' symphonies 4 through 7. Some Sibelians balk at the Karajan approach, the long, frankly beautiful lines and seemless phrasing. Vanska, Jarvi, Berglund, and others offer other avenues of interpretation. Nevertheless, few orchestra/conductor combinations could equal the partnership he shared with the Berlin Philharmonic when they were at their best, painting bold, dramatic imagery with strokes of singing color. Archly romantic, yes....but Karajan could make it work. And when those strings took wing...amazing!

Sibelius: Finlandia; En Saga; Valse triste; Karelia Suite; The Swan of Tuonela
Average customer rating:

Is this the greatest Sibelius recording ever?

Sibelius: Finlandia; En Saga; Valse triste; Karelia Suite; The Swan of Tuonela

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Bruckner: Symphony No. 7

ASIN: B000AQACWU
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

En Saga Op.9
The Swan Of Tuonela
I: Intermezo
II: Ballade
III: Alla Marcia
Finlandia Op.26
Valse Triste Op.44
Tapiola Op.112

Customer Reviews:

Is this the greatest Sibelius recording ever?.......2005-12-14

Is this the greatest Sibelius recording ever?

It may well be.

This particular CD combines Karajan's 1976 analog recordings of four Sibelius tone poems with his 1981 digital recordings of Valse Triste and the Op 11 Karelia Suite. The analog material - Finlandia, The Swan of Tuonela, En Saga and Tapiola - have always been demonstration-quality recordings. This particular CD marks the SEVENTH time I've purchased these recordings: first in their initial USA Angel LP & cassette issues, then as a British LP import, next as a German LP import, again in their initial EMI Studio CD release, once more in their second EMI CD release, and now in their almost-always-better-sounding Great Recordings of the Century series (there are exceptions to that particular rule, BTW).

Why all the copies? Simple: I was constantly seeking out a version that did full justice to the sound that one could tell was inscribed on the original tapes, and I think that finally, finally EMI have got it just about right.

First off, these recordings are very lifelike. They very much represent the Berlin Phil under Karajan that I heard in live performances at Carnegie Hall. And - except for a few intonation problems here and there that were previously buried in various degrees of sonic mush - the execution of the BPO is near immaculate (no clams in the brass!), matching American orchestras in their typical note-perfect playing.

The recorded ambience is also very easy on the ear, but - and this is a big but - the listening perspective on these recordings has now been shifted forward from second row orchestra to the conductor's podium. What I mean by that is that there is much more clarity and transparency in the orchestra than I recall from previous issues (it also helps if you listen to the CD at a slightly boosted volume level). It's a bit like the difference one gets when auditioning a recording on headphones rather than through speakers (in fact, I could swear that I can now hear Karajan - or someone - humming at certain points or urging on the orchestra).

There has also been a re-sequencing of the tracks themselves. Previous issues all opened with Karajan's massive version of Finlandia - an opening track that was sure to grab a listener by the gonads and pull him into the recording. This time around the CD opens with En Saga with Finlandia buried down the track listing. If you've never heard this disc and want to hear what it's all about, you'll play Finlandia first, trust me!

On the subject of this recording of Finlandia, it surely gains from Karajan opting for doubled winds who maintain their sound and texture over the massive strings and brass (augmented by VERY present timpani). Here, Karajan and the BPO launch what has to have set the all-time record for gravitas in Finlandia openings. This is slow, ballsy and brilliant. I can think of no greater compliment to give both Karajan and his orchestra than to say that they here play Finlandia as if it were the most important piece of music ever composed by anyone, ever.

The same "greatest piece ever" philosophy also inhabits the other works on this CD. The Swan, in particular, is hauntingly beautiful, no more so than in the huge string phrases that take over before the English horn's final, plaintive utterances. This is music making on such a high level that one might miss it for the emotional involvement of all concerned. You may find yourself - as did I - immediately replaying this track just to convince yourself that it really was that good.

Likewise, Karajan's 1981 Valse triste surpasses his previous efforts (not to mention those of most others). This is a slow but enervated version of a piece that I just never tire of hearing. However, I will say that the digital sound is slightly less fulsome than that captured on the analog tracks. The Karelia Suite is also of digital origin and reflects the same caveat, though this is picking nits - the recordings are all fabulous.

The real revelation on the disc is Tapiola. Karajan recorded it a few times, and I find this one to be his best if not THE best recording of the piece ever made. If you want to know what the term "heavy classic" means, seek no further. It was once opined that Sibelius' fame could have rested on Tapiola alone, and it may well be that Tapiola recordings may come down to this one and this one alone. It is just that impressive as a recording and as an interpretation.

Seventeen years after his death, it's becoming quite clear to me that Karajan went through something of a golden age in the 1970s. His recordings from that period - particularly his EMI recordings - showcase an orchestra and conductor at the absolute summit of their powers, fully in tune with each other and the music at hand. These Sibelius recordings rank with the very best from that period and are well deserving of the Great Recordings of the Century moniker.

I'd urge you to purchase this disc before EMI consigns this issue to deletion status.

It simply doesn't get any better.

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5-7; The Oceanides; Finlandia; Tapiola

Average customer rating:

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5-7; The Oceanides; Finlandia; Tapiola

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession

ASIN: B000B668Y0
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Tracks:

I. Tempo Molto Moderato - Allegro Moderato
II. Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto
III. Allegro Molto - Un Pochettino Largamente
I. Allegro Molto Moderato
II. Allegretto Moderato
III. Poco Vivace
IV. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

I. Adagio
II. Un Pochettino Meno Adagio
III. Poco Rallentando Al Adagio
IV. Presto - Poco A Poco Rallentando Al Adagio
The Oceanides Op.73
Finlandia Op.26
Tapiola Op.112
Bonus Track 1
Bonus Track 2
Bonus Track 3
Bonus Track 4
Bonus Track 5
Bonus Track 6
Bonus Track 7
Bonus Track 8
Bonus Track 9
Bonus Track 10
Bonus Track 11
Bonus Track 12
Bonus Track 13
Bonus Track 14
Bonus Track 15
Bonus Track 16
Bonus Track 17
Bonus Track 18
Bonus Track 19
Bonus Track 20
Bonus Track 21
Bonus Track 22
Bonus Track 23
Bonus Track 24
Bonus Track 25
Bonus Track 26
Bonus Track 27
Bonus Track 28

Sibelius: Karelia, Tapiola, Les Oceanides, Valse Triste, etc. / Davis, London SO

Average customer rating:

Finland's favorite son
Very Enjoyable
Excellent recording
Karelia -- where's the snap?
Sensitive,beautifully played & recorded performances

Sibelius: Karelia, Tapiola, Les Oceanides, Valse Triste, etc. / Davis, London SO
Colin Davis
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6

ASIN: B00000IFOG
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Intermezzo
Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Ballade
Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Alla marcia
The Ocanides, Op. 73
Finlandia, Op. 26
Valse Triste
Tapiola, Op. 112
Nightride & Sunrise, Op. 55

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis's outstanding series of Sibelius's symphonies for RCA continues with a program of the Finnish master's tone poems, which include some of his finest music. The late Tapiola, for example, is a brooding meditation on the mysteries of Scandinavia's vast forestlands, replete with harmonic ingenuity and imaginative orchestral colors. The early Karelia Suite charms, the familiar Finlandia bristles with patriotic fervor, and Davis makes the seductive Valse Triste sing its sad song with poignant restraint. Throughout the varied program, he captures the often chilly mysteries at the core of Sibelius's music. A very desirable release, made even more fetching by Tony Faulkner's lifelike engineering. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Finland's favorite son.......2006-04-05

Jean Sibelius, the favorite son of Finland, often wrote programmatic music using mythology, political themes, and scenic imagery of his homeland. This disk offers six such works spanning his entire career: Karalia Suite, The Oceanides, Finlandia, Valse Triste, Tapiola, and Nightride and Sunrise.

The 15-minute Karelia Suite is taken from a larger 50-minute work, a composition from Sibelius' youth. Karelia is the wide border between Finland and Russia, the center of the epic Finnish tale Kalevala, which Sibelius wrote an early choral symphony on. The three movements show youthful simplicity and classical tendencies: Intermezzo, a gentle march with distant horn calls, Ballade, a melancholy chorale with many textures, and March, a joyful and optimistic march, both gentile and nave. The Oceanides recall the sea-nymphs from the Kalevala myth, although this is also believed to have some root in Homeric mythology. At 11 minutes, light oscillating strings, a flute duet, 2 timpani, and 2 harps, slow harmonic rhythms, and the shimmering, Impressionistic qualities give the work a gentle feel. The most famous work, Finlandia, speaks of the repression of the Russian hold over Finland, but the hope of independence soon follows (which Finland got in 1917) with the famous chorale. Angry and dissonant brass and timpani open the work, surrounded by a menacing string melody. A rhythmic section is taken up, first gloomily, but a triumphant march, a peaceful chorale, and an exultant finale, conclude the Nationalistic work.

Valse Triste, 6 minutes, is a work meant to accompany a Finnish play entitled "Death"; dreaming of dancers and dancing, an old woman hears a knock...Death. This is a sad, slow waltz with long, languorous lines. The work becomes more and more up beat in tempo as time passes, nearly impassioned; but the work ends intimately, as the story suggests. Tapiola, a character from Kalevala, is the god of the forests. Described as "ancient, mysterious, brooding", loneliness...the 18 minute poem musically depicts just that. A mighty, heroic opening, almost fearful, dissonant and chromatic leads to a fantastical dance of the wood nymphs. An aggressive battle of magic progresses, with blazing brass, but all ends calmly in strings. Nightride and Sunrise tells of a man's night journey through a gloomy forest, a forest with strange sounds and foreboding, but eventually dawn appears, and the gloom is dispelled. The piece is infested with galloping strings, coming across various interruptions (counterpoint, polyrhythms, a long woodwind solo) that are somewhat scary. Visually, this is the most vivid, visually descriptive, and dramatic of the works.

Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra have received some flack for their series of Sibelius works on RCA Red Label. Suffice to say, this one works better than others. The interpretations are good, the tempo choices are intelligent, and the programming of the CD, offers a nice variety of music. The playing seems as if the ensemble was having an off day: odd wind timbres at times, brass tuning and balance are shifty in places, but the RCA recording features odd balances, favoring strings and brass. However, there are some great moments on this CD, and despite those recording issues, is a good CD. 77 minutes of neat, programmatic Sibelius music, dramatic and personal, especially his devotion to Finland, is genuinely portrayed here. Compare with his older recordings with the BSO.

Very Enjoyable.......2004-07-16

Davis has acquired a considerable reputation in recent years as a conductor of Sibelius works. This is a very nice recording of some of Sibelius' shorter orchestral works. The performances feature the lush romanticism of Sibelius work but without exaggerating the tempi or balance of the orchestra. Others may prefer more dramatic renditions but these are fine performances of enjoyable works. A nice feature is that the disc includes both very well known and less frequently performed pieces.

Excellent recording.......2002-09-03

This disc features an eclectic group of works: on one hand, three well-known, instantly likeable compositions which serve as a nice introduction to the music of Jean Sibelius (Karelia suite, Finlandia, Valse triste); on the other, three elaborate and multi-layered pieces that, although not too hard to appreciate at first, reveal most of their secrets after several listens (Oceanides, Tapiola, Nightride and Sunrise). Davis obtains beautiful sonic textures from the LSO: this is one of those discs that beg to be listened to with headphones. The recording ends with the musical adventure that is Nightride and Sunrise - a piece which, even if you've listened to it many times, remains unpredictable. From the first minute to the last, this is an excellent disc.

Karelia -- where's the snap?.......2000-05-02

I just bought the old Davis/BSO Sibelius symphonies, based on reputation. I should have listened to them first. The performances feel lifeless, and I feel the same way about his Karelia on this recording. Do yourself a favor -- get Sir Charles MacKerras' recording of the 2nd Symphony + Karelia + Finlandia, and listen just to the Intermezzo from Karelia and compare it to this, and you will understand what I am talking about. And if you want to compare Davis to someone who takes the Intermezzo at something like his tempo, try the old Barbirolli recording with the Halle Orchestra. Even though Barbirolli is little, if any, faster, there's life in his music-making that is totally absent in Davis' version.

Sensitive,beautifully played & recorded performances.......1999-11-22

Finlandia lasts one minute more than Davis' 1976 Boston performance-remarkable in an eight minute work! It blazes less than before, but is incredibly heartfelt and very powerful. So the rest of the collection goes; Night Ride is pretty calm but seems more logical and essentially "Sibelian" than most other performances. The sound is both clear and full. Rather than sounding efficiently generic, the LSO produces crystalline textures and broadly powerful climaxes.

Average customer rating:

Sibelius: Tone Poems

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0006AZQ0I
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

En Sag, Op. 9
Luonnotar, Op. 70 - Phyllis Bryn-Julson
Finlandia, Op. 70
Spring Song, Op. 16
The Bard, Op. 64
The Dryad, Op. 45 No. 1

Tracks:

Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49
Night Ride And Sunrise, Op. 55
The Oceanides, Op. 73
Tapiola, Op. 112

Sibelius: Finlandia Op26/7; Karelia Op11

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Sibelius: Finlandia Op26/7; Karelia Op11

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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004RJNR
Release Date: 2000-03-15

Tracks:

Andante Sostenuto - Allegro Moderato - Allegro
Andante Molto Sostenuto - Jukka Hirvikangas
Tempo Moderato E Sostenuto
III. Alla Marcia. Moderato
Andante
XVII. Antonio. Dance Of The Shapes. Moderato Assai - Allegro Molto Moderato - Poco Tranquillo - Allegro E Poco A Poco Stretto
I. Country-Scenery. Allegretto - Dong-Suk Kang
II. Evening In Spring. Andantino - Dong-Suk Kang
III. In The Summer. Vivace - Dong-Suk Kang
Lento - Poco Risoluto - Piu Risoluto E Mosso - Stretto - Lento Assai
VII. Entr'acte. Allegretto
VIII. The Death Of Melisande. Andante
Largamente - Allegro Moderato - Allegro - Allegro Moderato - Allegro - Allegro Moderato

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1. Finlandia Op. 26 Tondichtung (Tone-Poem)
2. Der Schwan Von Tuonela Op. 22 No. 2 (The Swan Of Tuonela)
3. Valse Triste Op. 44
4. Tapiola Op. 112 Tondichtung (Tone-Poem)