Search - Jean Sibelius, Leif Segerstam, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra :: Sibelius: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Finlandia

As usual, it's mainly a matter of taste.

Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 07/05/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Segerstam's Sibelius will probably appeal more to those who appreciate a somewhat soft edged, relatively slower paced, more richly textured quality. In other words, if you like tauter, cleaner lines, a more vivid and energetic pace and a cooler interpretive style, then Segerstam may not be your man. There's no doubt he can be quite musically expressive, but the issue is in what way[s] ? One of the chief considerations with Sibelius is atmosphere. Aside from nature's colors playing a vital role, grandeur or an epic quality frequently demands representation. While Segerstam is capable of projecting a swelling sense of intensity when called for, I feel he doesn't reveal enough in the way of that Sibelian attribute of loftiness. However, the Sixth Symphony's recipe calls for a somewhat different set of ingredients. Though there are still aspects of the usual mystery and grandness, more flowing textures and some lighter considerations significantly come into play. Segerstam deals with these things in a most disarming way by bringing warmly expressive detail to what is often referred to as a wintry toned work. I do not rate him as highly however in the other symphonies...In the First, my main criticisms are along aesthetic grounds---his characterization of particular phrases, the prominence given to certain instrumental sections over others and some pauses that are too long...The popular Second Symphony is the kind of piece that runs the risk of being twisted and pulled excessively by some conductors. The worst case I'm familiar with is Thomas Schippers' New York Philharmonic account from the 1960s. Segerstam does not go that far, though I'm still not especially enamoured with his reading. Moreover, he does not entirely avoid some congestion. I also do not respond well to some of his heavier accents. My disappointment with his conception of the Fifth Symphony is based on similar grounds...I rate Segerstam's Third Symphony performance as being next best after his Sixth. It is nicely tuneful, although the final minutes of the last movement would have benefitted from a little more textural clarification...The conductor's perspective on the Seventh Symphony misses a taut, vivid quality. Musical lines could be cleaner. There's not much of that epic presence either...Finally, in the Fourth Symphony, Segerstam is appropriately dark and moody, but there has to be more evidence of life's vital signs. I find his pace too slow and his musical outline a bit spongy. Among other Fourths I have heard, Collins and Maazel are the best at grabbing my attention and keeping it throughout...As for Finlandia, it begins in fairly routine fashion though near the close there is a nice contribution from the Male Polytech Choir; however, they and Segerstam never really bring the piece to inspired heights...In the Violin Concerto the conductor's mostly plodding pace carries all the way to the end. Though technically fine, violinist Pekka Kuusisto doesn't project much personality. There seems to be little range or depth of feeling in his rendition.



Here are my favorite choices for these pieces, not necessarily in order of preference: Sym.1--Maazel/Vienna Philharmonic, Collins/London Symphony ( All of Collins' Sibelius readings are in mono.) and Stokowski/National Philharmonic; Sym.2--Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra ( Columbia/Sony ), Collins and Ashkenazy/Philharmonia Orchestra ; Sym.3--Kamu/Helsinki Radio Symphony and Segerstam/Helsinki Philharmonic; Sym.4--Maazel/Vienna and Collins; Sym.5--Bernstein/New York Philharmonic, Barbirolli/Halle Orchestra, Collins, Ashkenazy and Ormandy/Philadelphia Orch.(lp nla); Sym.6--Vanska, Collins, Saraste/Finnish Radio, Karajan/BerlinPhiharmonic on EMI, Ashkenazy and Segerstam/Helsinki Phil.; Sym.7--Maazel/Vienna, Vanska, Collins and Koussevitzky; Finlandia--Ormandy/Philadelphia ( with Mormon Tabernacle Choir ), Collins and Ashkenazy; Violin Concerto--Oistrakh/Ormandy, Heifetz/Hendl and Repin/Krivine. Incidentally, the recorded sound on Segerstam's Ondine set is very fine."

5 Stars for the Symphonies and Finlandia!

Woodland Poet | 06/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you have loved the Sibelius Symphonies as I have and have been searching for the one set to buy, this is that set. A Finnish conductor and orchestra make it all the better. The recorded sound is amazingingly clear and deep. The performances are rich, detailed and have a great urgency to them. There is I would say a tension to the performaces and excitement and more warmth than so much of the "icy" Sibelius that is out there on CD. The second is taken at a slower pace than some, but at no expense of structure. The first is my personal favorite in the set. Many conductors I think treat this as an early "romantic" Sibelius work (as though it is not "real" Sibelius) and it often comes off rather Tchaikovsky-ish. Not so here as here it definately sounds like Sibelius. I was also very impressed with the 7th, which despite its short length comes off as having great size and breadth, feeling more like a symphony at the length of a tone poem. My only gripe is the recording of the Sibelius violin concerto, which is simply not worthy of the rest of the set. Fortunately there are many good recordings of that concerto available.



The version of Finlandia in this set features chorus with it and it is sublime. A great bonus with the 7 symphonies."

A composer's unique approach to Sibelius

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although cogently written, the three-star review here is far off the mark. Woolly? Slow? Lacking in vitality? Segerstam rarely, if ever, displays those flaws. Being a composr himself, his highly personal approach is full of intensity and vitality. Ondine's recorded sound is crystal clear, and the Helsinki orchestra plays incisively. I think this Sibelius cycle, which sells cheaply at Amazon Marketplace, is a real sleeper, and anyone who loves these symphonies will be excited by what Segerstam does with them -- his way is unique.



Since I've reviewed quite a few of the performances individually, I won't repeat myself here, except to say that my recent discovery of this conductor has added new enthusiasm to my appreciation of Sibelius. To prefer second-rate accounts by Collins and Maazel makes little sense to me, even if we are talking about personal taste."