The very best Sibelius recordings in analog


Jean Sibelius, the great Finnish composer, wrote magnificent symphonies. We are celebrating Finland´s 100th Anniversary and Sibelius´ music as well.
Please tell your favorite analog recordings of his best work, I really would appreciate.
  
One of mine is the Lorin Maazel ´s 60´s symphonies on Decca label. 
Sibelius reputation rests chiefly on his great symphonies, seven spectacular creations, all with their particular points of grandeur and originality.

Originally released between 1963 and 1968 Maazel´ s Sibelius cycle met with critical acclaim. Particularly praised is Maazel´s interpretation of the Fourth Symphony in the Vienna Philharmonics only recording of the work.

harold-not-the-barrel

Showing 11 responses by schubert

Let me know if I got the "Finnish to the bone" thing with Maria  please harold .Got my week in Turku vacation in May set up .

You’re missing the point sevs, if you brain could not verbalize you never would have got past your high-chair stage .
Most of what humans do is done in our sub-conscious. the brain is talking like crazy, you just don't know it .


Case # 1 for music is difference between French and German classical music which been expounded upon for a least a century.
I’ve read several times that some conductors won’t touch "Symphonic Dances" for that  reason . 
I'd like to hear JoAnn Falletta  give it a shot myself .

Not a few think part of reason that Sibelius is so beloved by Finns ( what other composers birthday is a National Holiday) is that his native tongue was Swedish, and as a perfectionist, he studied Finnish in a way few Finns ever did.
He said he knew he was a true Finn when he started to dream in it .


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If the brain could not speak you would not be playing chess or squash .
Nor would either exist .


People think in their native language which affects every thing you do to include playing, hearing or writing music . In fact you can not think without language , and tend to think in same MANNER as those who share their native tongue .
Goes double for languages that are not related to most common ones and/or little studied elsewhere such as Finnish, Hungarian and Czech , all of which are very musical cultures .
I heard him play a Brahms clarinet piece , I believe he could get a 1st job in Berlin or Vienna , perhaps even with the greatest German O., the Leipzig Gewandhaus .

Erased as a bit cheeky.
My all-time fav, which nobody agrees with, is Kurt Masur . He saw the big picture enough to view the Brahms 4 as 4 parts of one symphony . Made a good case for it too .
In the heart of the German Symphony from Mendelssohn to Brahms he batted 750 every time . Several times my wife and I heard him day after Karajan,, a revelation to hear, and see, players respond to an honest man
who they loved compared to puppets on strings pulled by a man they did not .
Critics often seem to see him as a "kappelmeister" which is just plain stupid IMO . .
Also, there is a video of him walking alone in a great crowd in Leipzig, days before the wall fell, for hours telling people to remain calm and refrain from violence . A great man still much beloved in Leipzig . May his soul rest forever in peace .

If you really want to hear Sibelius as should be the current BIS
recordings with Osmo Vanska leading the Minnesota Orch . are to die for.
The rhythm is spot-on as is the up through the bass line approach needed in these symphonies , best Conductor and Band for Sibelius extant . The clarity of Sibelius is there in every note .
Reviews in Finland and all through Europe are off the charts .

Finest 2, I ever heard was1969 Halle O. under Barbirolli on Testament.
The 1954 complete Karajan/Berlin set on Columbia was best ever on vinyl but good-luck finding it .

As northernfox says the digital vinyl Davis RCA/LSO is best ever. Some would say his earlier Boston/Phillips was , to me it has little better sound .
Both are superb .