Saraste's Sibelius
Rob Taylor
I was very disappointed to hear Saraste's recording of the Sibelius
symphonies on Finlandia. How can anyone make Sibelius so dull ? About as
dynamic as a sparkler. Like Bill Gates giving a speech for Outward
Bound.
Still don't think there is competition for either Blomstedt, Davis or
Askenazy.
Rob
Juhana Hautsalo
In article <3382389B...@netspace.net.au>, Rob Taylor
<ka...@netspace.net.au> wrote:
> I was very disappointed to hear Saraste's recording of the Sibelius
> symphonies on Finlandia. How can anyone make Sibelius so dull ? About as
> dynamic as a sparkler. Like Bill Gates giving a speech for Outward
> Bound.
Are you referring to the live recordings in St. Petersburg in '93?
Personally, I disagree. Not a bad recording at all.
> Still don't think there is competition for either Blomstedt, Davis or
> Askenazy.
Have you heard the latest recording of Paavo Berglund on Finlandia Records,
with Chamber Orchestra of Europe? 4th & 6th are available, the rest not yet
released. So far souds very interesting indeed.
Juhana Hautsalo
Kuopio, Finland
e-mail jhau...@dds.nl
Rob Taylor
Juhana Hautsalo wrote:
Thanks for the reply. Yes I did mean the live recordings. Maybe they
take more than a few listens, but I found that he was running the music
through without considerations for dynamics, or tension. I have heard
some of Berglund on EMI (older cycle obviously) which I was very
impressed with, so thank you, I'll look out for it. By the way, I had a
wonderful time when I was in Helsinki in 1988. There was a little
'beach' where people used to hang out, have a drink, socialise and
generally have a good time. Very friendly people and lots of fun.
Rob
Jan Arell
In article <338A9656...@netspace.net.au>, ka...@netspace.net.au
says...
>
>> > I was very disappointed to hear Saraste's recording of the Sibelius
>> > symphonies on Finlandia. How can anyone make Sibelius so dull ?
There is yet another Sibelius symphonies cycle coming up: Lahti Symphony
Orch conducted by Osmo Vänskä (the guys that have given us the original
5th symphony et cetera). It´s on BIS, who already have a cycle with
Gothenburg SO and Järvi.
I have heard rumours for some time here in Gothenburg that Järvi and GSO
will record the symphonies for their present company DG, especially after
their succesful Sibelius concerts in London and Vienna in ´95 and ´96.
Maybe this rumour is based on hope rather than facts.
Jan Arell
Brian Burtt
Jan Arell <jan....@gp.se> wrote in article <5mf2dk$c...@mn5.swip.net>...
[...]
> I have heard rumours for some time here in Gothenburg that Järvi and GSO
> will record the symphonies for their present company DG, especially after
> their succesful Sibelius concerts in London and Vienna in ´95 and ´96.
> Maybe this rumour is based on hope rather than facts.
>
> Jan Arell
>
Now, if only DG bothers to put it out in the US. I just ordered the
Shostakovich Orchestral Songs, vol. 1, from German Music Express for nearly
$30. I sure as hell am not going to do that for the whole Sibelius cycle.
(Insert Matthew Tepper's standard comment about record companies and
two-by-fours...)
--Brian Burtt
burt...@pilot.msu.edu
Ryan Hare
Rob Taylor (ka...@netspace.net.au) wrote:
: I was very disappointed to hear Saraste's recording of the Sibelius
: symphonies on Finlandia. How can anyone make Sibelius so dull ? About as
: dynamic as a sparkler. Like Bill Gates giving a speech for Outward
: Bound.
: Askenazy.
I was also disappointed with this set. Saraste's traversal of the Sibelius
Symphonies on RCA is however, IMHO, much better, and often a truly
inspired set. The Finlandia one to my ears is just wayward.
Ryan Hare
rh...@u.washington.edu
Virtanen
>>
>> > I was very disappointed to hear Saraste's recording of the Sibelius
>> > symphonies on Finlandia. How can anyone make Sibelius so dull ?
>> About as
>> > dynamic as a sparkler. Like Bill Gates giving a speech for Outward
>> > Bound.
>>
>> Personally, I disagree. Not a bad recording at all.
>>
>> or
>> > Askenazy.
>>
>> Records,
>> with Chamber Orchestra of Europe? 4th & 6th are available, the rest
>> not yet
>> released. So far souds very interesting indeed.
>>
>> Juhana Hautsalo
>> Kuopio, Finland
>> e-mail jhau...@dds.nl
>
> Thanks for the reply. Yes I did mean the live recordings. Maybe they
>take more than a few listens, but I found that he was running the music
>through without considerations for dynamics, or tension. I have heard
>some of Berglund on EMI (older cycle obviously) which I was very
>impressed with, so thank you, I'll look out for it. By the way, I had a
>wonderful time when I was in Helsinki in 1988. There was a little
>'beach' where people used to hang out, have a drink, socialise and
>generally have a good time. Very friendly people and lots of fun.
>
>Rob
I find Berglund's recent Sibelius recording (4th and 6th) with COE a bit
too analytical and therefore I strongly suggest Lahti SO with Osmo Vänskä
on Bis (symphs 1 and 4) for you Rob if you want tension and dynamic variation.
Tempos are on the brisk side, but the readings are very powerful and still
well articulated. There's true Sibelian spirit in the recording and it's been
warmly welcomed here in Finland.
Jyri //
Tripletz
I liked the Saraste RCA Sibelis 3, the only time I've heard him do
Sibelius.
David Lobdell
In article <19970528023...@ladder02.news.aol.com>,
trip...@aol.com (Tripletz) wrote:
> I liked the Saraste RCA Sibelis 3, the only time I've heard him do
> Sibelius.
And his RCA Scenes Historiques made me realize that no other conductor
really understands this music.
DAVID LOBDELL
Simple Country Pathologist
--
David Lobdell
tao...@nai.net
Chia Han-Leon
Jan Arell (jan....@gp.se) wrote:
: There is yet another Sibelius symphonies cycle coming up: Lahti Symphony
: 5th symphony et cetera). It´s on BIS, who already have a cycle with
: Gothenburg SO and Järvi.
Naxos is also recording a cycle performed by the Iceland SO under ...some
Scandinavian whose name I can't recall. They've already recorded the 1st
and 3rd. Based on their Chandos record of the Pelleas and Kristian II
suites, this should be quite promising.
The LahtiSO/Vanska CD has been praised (as I'd expect) by the recent
review in the UK Sibelius Society newsletter.
: I have heard rumours for some time here in Gothenburg that Järvi and GSO
: will record the symphonies for their present company DG, especially after
: their succesful Sibelius concerts in London and Vienna in ´95 and ´96.
: Maybe this rumour is based on hope rather than facts.
Well, DG/Jarvi already have two relatively new Sibelius discs out (the
first of popular stuff; the most recent has Pohjola's Daughter, the 4
Legends and one other piece). I am extremely fond of the first disc
(Finlandia, Karelia, Luonnotar - also has a very beautiful Oceanides) and
the second is quite impressive. If this goes on, they really ought to
start a cycle of the symphonies - it's overdue for DG anyway (OK, OK,
but I really don't think Levine's efforts are passable)! In any
case, I did read a rumour(?) that Jarvi/Gothenburg have already
recorded the 2nd symphony.
Leon
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D. Stephen Heersink
I like the Saraste on Finlandia label. I don't have the RCA label to
compare it to, but I do have a few others:
Bernstein, NYP, Sony
Davis, Philips
Leaper, Slovak, Naxos
Maazel, Vienna, London
Rattle, CBSO, EMI
Sanderling, Berlin SO, Berlin
and
Saraste, Finnish RSO, Finlandia
And a few new Colin Davis (RCA), older von Karajan (EMI), and Jansons
(EMI). The ONLY bad one in the lot, IMHO, is Bernstein! I bought this
on the strong recommendation of an ARG "overview" several years back.
I think they are WRONG about Bernstein, but right on with Sanderling.
Of the whole group of recordings, the ONE that is distinguished is
Sanderling's for the reasons often cited: He brings out
instrumentation never heard before, with a clarity heretofore unknown,
and yet without belaboring the discovery.
Sanderling would be my "If on a desert island," but I'd hate to part
with any of the above, except, Bernstein, whom I play the most to TRY
to like.
_________________________
Stephen Heersink
San Francisco, California
dsh...@sprintmail.com
"In things necessary, unity; in things doubtful,
liberty; in all things, charity." Augustine of Hippo