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Hurwitz on Bernstein's remastered Sibelius Symphonies w/ NYPO
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Oscar
Jul 6, 2015, 11:20:10 PM7/6/15
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Dave likes it. Lenny and Fluffy Blomstedt are his 'reference' cycles. Can't disagree with that!
From Classics Today http://tinyurl.com/q2fxarh
<< Big Boxes: Bernstein's Sibelius Remastered
Review by: David Hurwitz
Artistic Quality: 10
Sound Quality: 8
To answer the obvious question, yes, these performances have been remastered well and they do sound better. This is particularly true, and was particularly necessary, in the Fifth Symphony and Pohjola's Daughter, both of which have greater realism and depth, and less hardness. It's also good to see all of these performances gathered together in a box, even if the "original jacket" concept can't possibly be of any value when the jacket in question is the Great Performers brown paper wrapping version of Finlandia, Valse triste, and The Swan of Tuonela coupled to the Grieg Peer Gynt Suites.
The performances themselves are marvelous. This was always one of the reference Sibelius cycles. The interpretations of the first two symphonies always have been highly praised, as has No. 7, and with good reason. Bernstein's approach generally is viewed as more on the "romantic" than the "classical" side, ironically nowhere more so than when he is following the score to the letter, as in the blazing coda of the Fifth Symphony's first movement (sound clip), or the climax of the Sixth's finale, where this is one of the vanishingly few versions to take Sibelius' very quick tempo designation seriously.
This assumption is rather mindlessly echoed by the booklet note writer, who accuses Bernstein of "exaggeration" for taking a slowish tempo in the finale of the Fourth Symphony. Of course, he's wrong-not that the tempo isn't deliberate, but in suggesting that this falls outside the range of interpretive norms. It doesn't. More to the point, the justification for the approach lies in Bernstein's ability to tease the melody out of those long, mysterious passages in measured tremolos (sound clip). And for a "romantic," Bernstein offers one of the most shapely and well-judged recordings of the tricky Third Symphony available.
Anyway, there have been several great Sibelius cycles since this one, but it remains a version of reference for its overall excellence as well as its abundant personality and character. In addition to the pieces already mentioned, you get a rather strange Luonnotar with Phyllis Curtin the intrepid soprano soloist, and an amazingly good Violin Concerto from Zino Francescatti (coupled with an equally find Bruch) which I had quite forgotten about. Talk about "under the radar!" Revisiting these recordings has only enhanced their stature, at least in my estimation.
Recording Details:
Reference Recording: Symphony Cycles: This One; Blomstedt (Decca)
SIBELIUS, JEAN:
Symphonies Nos. 1-7; Violin Concerto; Pohjola's Daughter; Finlandia; Valse triste; The Swan of Tuonela; Luonnatar
GRIEG, EDVARD:
Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 and 2
BRUCH, MAX:
Violin Concerto No. 1
Francescatti, Zino (violin)
Curtin, Phyllis (soprano)
Bernstein, Leonard (conductor)
New York Philharmonic
Sony Classical - 88875026142 >>
From Classics Today http://tinyurl.com/q2fxarh
<< Big Boxes: Bernstein's Sibelius Remastered
Review by: David Hurwitz
Artistic Quality: 10
Sound Quality: 8
To answer the obvious question, yes, these performances have been remastered well and they do sound better. This is particularly true, and was particularly necessary, in the Fifth Symphony and Pohjola's Daughter, both of which have greater realism and depth, and less hardness. It's also good to see all of these performances gathered together in a box, even if the "original jacket" concept can't possibly be of any value when the jacket in question is the Great Performers brown paper wrapping version of Finlandia, Valse triste, and The Swan of Tuonela coupled to the Grieg Peer Gynt Suites.
The performances themselves are marvelous. This was always one of the reference Sibelius cycles. The interpretations of the first two symphonies always have been highly praised, as has No. 7, and with good reason. Bernstein's approach generally is viewed as more on the "romantic" than the "classical" side, ironically nowhere more so than when he is following the score to the letter, as in the blazing coda of the Fifth Symphony's first movement (sound clip), or the climax of the Sixth's finale, where this is one of the vanishingly few versions to take Sibelius' very quick tempo designation seriously.
This assumption is rather mindlessly echoed by the booklet note writer, who accuses Bernstein of "exaggeration" for taking a slowish tempo in the finale of the Fourth Symphony. Of course, he's wrong-not that the tempo isn't deliberate, but in suggesting that this falls outside the range of interpretive norms. It doesn't. More to the point, the justification for the approach lies in Bernstein's ability to tease the melody out of those long, mysterious passages in measured tremolos (sound clip). And for a "romantic," Bernstein offers one of the most shapely and well-judged recordings of the tricky Third Symphony available.
Anyway, there have been several great Sibelius cycles since this one, but it remains a version of reference for its overall excellence as well as its abundant personality and character. In addition to the pieces already mentioned, you get a rather strange Luonnotar with Phyllis Curtin the intrepid soprano soloist, and an amazingly good Violin Concerto from Zino Francescatti (coupled with an equally find Bruch) which I had quite forgotten about. Talk about "under the radar!" Revisiting these recordings has only enhanced their stature, at least in my estimation.
Recording Details:
Reference Recording: Symphony Cycles: This One; Blomstedt (Decca)
SIBELIUS, JEAN:
Symphonies Nos. 1-7; Violin Concerto; Pohjola's Daughter; Finlandia; Valse triste; The Swan of Tuonela; Luonnatar
GRIEG, EDVARD:
Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 and 2
BRUCH, MAX:
Violin Concerto No. 1
Francescatti, Zino (violin)
Curtin, Phyllis (soprano)
Bernstein, Leonard (conductor)
New York Philharmonic
Sony Classical - 88875026142 >>
Frank Berger
Jul 6, 2015, 11:31:01 PM7/6/15
to
Agree with Hurwitz about the generic Great Performances LP
design not fitting well with the Original Jackets concept.
It's ridiculous when you think about it.
design not fitting well with the Original Jackets concept.
It's ridiculous when you think about it.
sunn...@gmail.com
Jul 7, 2015, 10:57:15 AM7/7/15
to
2015년 7월 7일 화요일 오후 12시 20분 10초 UTC+9, Oscar 님의 말:
A Wonderful set indeed. 1, 2, 6, 7 and Pohjola's Daughter are highlights imo.
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