Jean Sibelius Osmo Vaumlnskauml Lahti Symphony Orchestra - Sibelius The Complete Symphonies (28 tracks) +Album Reviews

Great performances

Nuddyguy | Collegedale, TN USA | 01/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own three sets of the Sibelius symphonies: Maazel/VPO, Davis/LSO, and this one. There are still a lot of other ones out there that I haven't heard yet, but if were to make a recommendation this one would be my pick. Vanska and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra give some really fine performances of these works. A few bonuses with this Sibelius cycle is the symphonic poem Tapiola, and the 1915 version of the 5th symphony which is very interesting to compare with the final version. The sound quality is great, and the rather extensive liner notes give some very helpful information about each piece. This set costs a little bit more than some of the other ones available out there, but I think it's worth it. To be truly honest, my only disappointment with this set was the the 2nd symphony, which seemed to lack some of the intensity that I find in all the other performances in this collection. It's probably because the 2nd is my favorite Sibelius symphony and I'm really picky about it (I own 6 recordings of the 2nd). All I can say is don't let that keep you from buying this set. There are plenty of good recordings of the 2nd out there, so don't be discouraged. Still, I highly recommend this set. Just listen to some Sibelius. More people need to hear his music."

Rock-solid performances in superior BIS sound

Ed Brickell | 06/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps I've heard more memorable performances of some of these symphonies -- which, along with Debussy and Ravel's orchestral music, are my all-time favorite symphonic works -- but taken as a whole these are quite well played, with tempi reasonably judged and plenty of Sibelian atmosphere. The strings are a tad thin but have an appealing and appropriate "chill" to their sound, and the woodwinds and brass parts are persuasively characterized. As a bonus, you get BIS' wonderfully natural recorded sound, superior examples of how to properly record a symphony orchestra. If you're looking for one-stop Sibelius symphony shopping, you will be pleased with this collection."

Something Inherently Right About This Complete Symphonies Se

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jean Sibelius remains somewhat of an enigma to concertgoers: nearly everyone is enraptured with the second symphony and many swoon over the fifth and seventh symphonies, but so often symphonies one, three, four, and six are overlooked. Yes, his violin concerto is well represented in nearly every contemporary violinist's repertoire, but the tone poems evade popularity. That is why it is exciting to own this fine set of four discs that not only surveys all seven symphonies but also adds the Tapiola as an encore.

Osmo Vänskä conducts the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in an echt recording of Sibelius. Yes, some may prefer a different approach to the more familiar symphonies such as the second, but taken as a whole Vänskä coaxes stunning performances from his ensemble. He allows the massive 'organ pedal' sustaining notes that occur repeatedly in all of the symphonies to sound as if they are the earth itself emerging through splits in the glacial craters of the Scandinavian landscape. His tempi are so correct that they constantly encourage the sense of urgency few other conductors find in the works. If this listener had to select a favorite among the works it would clearly be the performance of the rarely heard and somewhat musically retrospective Symphony No. 3. Rarely has this work seemed so coherent and so ripe with all the ideas that constantly sprang from Sibelius' mind. It is a gem of a performance.

Not one for boxed sets usually, this particular one, recorded with some of the finest sound available, is a mighty exception. It is a solid, consistently inspiring reading of the Sibelius symphonies. Grady Harp, November 06

"

Absolute Perfection

B. R. Merrick | 10/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Trust me. You have no need to read the rest of this review. This is the symphonic cycle to own. I always knew that Sibelius's music was extraordinarily beautiful, but it was obvious from other recordings I used to own that the interpretations I heard were sub-par. I took a chance on an orchestra I had never heard of, and I was blown away. The precision and care with which these great works are handled is simply unmatched by any major orchestra's recorded performances. The closest I came to hearing a rendition of the Fifth this good was a tape from Deutsche Grammaphon, but I cannot find a CD of that particular recording. No matter. It is no longer necessary. I am intent on eventually purchasing all of Sibelius's orchestral fare strictly from this conductor and orchestra.

Every time the brass enter, it is an incisive cut through the ephemeral strings. The woodwinds are always playful, the strings precise and finely tuned. With Sibelius's complicated phrasing and enigmatic rhythms, it is vital that the subtleties don't get lost in mushier playing, and the fact that this orchestra survives on a smaller string section helps a great deal in keeping the sound clean and fresh, like you would imagine the air of Finland to be.

Highlights include the superb and highly dramatic entrances of the strings and then the brass in the opening of the First, followed by respite with a jaunty little passage for harp and woodwinds; the pastoral first movement of the Second, followed by a lightning-fast Scherzo; the somber and tremulous passages in the Fourth; the frightening screech of the Horns at the climax of the Seventh, shortly before the prolonged leading tone in the penultimate chord; there's even the original version of the Fifth for your enjoyment. But what sets this recording above other cycles in my opinion is the way that the Fifth and Sixth are handled.

The Horns are crucial in the Fifth, and here there are no complaints, only pure, harmonious playing. The strings also have a vitally important part in the first movement as they climb chromatically in oscillating chords behind fragmented melodies in the woodwinds, and Vänskä interprets this increase in dramatic tension perfectly, with a wonderful slurred motion that accentuates the rhythm without drowning the winds. The end of the first movement is beautifully done, as the timpani releases the rest of the orchestra to scurry to the finish in the higher registers. In the final movement, the Horns once again prove their mettle by keeping their layered playing expertly connected, slurring up and down to make mountaintops while playing harmony in thirds. The final staccato chords with the pauses in between are so often given to the occasional false start, but not here. The finale is a satisfying and powerful finish.

The Sixth took me entirely by surprise. I had never heard this symphony played so well, therefore its immense power was hidden from me for quite some time. The strings take their time giving their mournful opening over to a lighter passage for harp and woodwinds; the brass are reliable in their ability to cut through everything with a surgeon's knife, and they do not disappoint here. The second movement consists mostly of scales, and fragments of scales for melody, with an almost baroque-like fortspinnung for strings in the final section. Here the delicacy of tension, just as in the opening movement of the Fifth, is held with exactness. The scherzo-like third movement showcases the Horns heralding the midsection and the finale with a magnificent dropping of the harmony back into the tonic with a few decisive chords. They also appear in the final throes of the fourth movement, bringing this magnificent symphony to glorious life once more.

The Lahti Symphony is apparently devoted almost entirely to the study of Sibelius's music. On this set, it most definitely shows. I cannot recommend it highly enough."

Search - Jean Sibelius, Osmo Vänskä, Lahti Symphony Orchestra :: Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies

CD Details

CD Reviews