Jean Sibelius / Carl Nielsen: Violin Concertos

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Carl Nielsen (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Swedish Radio Symphony (Orchestra), Esa-Pekka Salonen (Performer), Cho-Liang Lin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Cho-Liang Lin
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra, Swedish Radio Symphony
• Conductor: Carl Nielsen
• Composer: Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: CBS Masterworks
• ASIN: B0000026NZ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,083 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro moderato

2. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Adagio di molto

3. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: Allegro, ma non tanto

4. Violin concerto, Op. 33 (FS 61): Praeludium: Largo; Allegro cavalleresco

5. Violin concerto, Op. 33 (FS 61): Poco adagio

6. Violin concerto, Op. 33 (FS 61): Rondo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sibelius is epic!, September 8, 2000

By 

J. Anderson (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Sibelius / Carl Nielsen: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

Five stars go to Cho-Liang Lin's marvelous account of the enchanting Sibelius Violin Concerto, one of the greatest concertos in the violin repertory. Though I remain convinced that no extant version of this piece rivals Oistrakh's recording with Ormandy and the Philadelphia, this is the only candidate for second place, and for all that, it's a more modern reading, sensitively attuned to a modern understanding while remaining utterly true to Sibelius' abundance. The broken octaves of the First Movement that rise and fall in that cataclysmically lyrical passage are so wonderfully phrased by this young Chinese master of music that one almost forgets Oistrakh's perfection, and indeed the spell cast here is an enduring one. The final Movement, which has been described as "a polonaise for polar bears"(!) is perfect as can be. I admire Lin's playing tremendously. His recording of Stravinsky's Duo Concertante and the Italian Suite is an equally fine venture, and one of my favorite recordings. The importance of the Nielsen simply escapes me. It's a unique piece of writing, but one certainly not in the league owned by Sibelius' masterpiece. Salonen seems hooked on Nielsen, though I suspect he has recorded so much of it in part because Nielsen is terribly neglected by many conductors. Ambitious conductors seem often to fancy finding that open niche in which to make a particular mark without taking enormous risks, though that comment is not intended as a put-down of Salonen's overall contribution. He's a conscientious conductor, certainly his collaboration here follows Lin's path with subtlety, and his affinity for contemporary music in particular seems genuine and often fruitful. In any case, his Nielsen recordings don't strike me as arising out of the same ardent love for this composer as do those of Herbert Blomstedt and the SF Symphony, some of which are even interesting. That being said, the Nielsen (and certainly the Sibelius) is enhanced by Lin's magnificent violin -it's a Guarneri, if I recall correctly- which possesses one of the richest and most incumbent sounds of any stringed instrument I've ever heard! If you want to hear magnificent sounding violin music, as well as some of the keenest and most unaffected playing around, get this recording. Cho-Liang Lin's encompassing rendition of Sibelius' monumental Concerto will reward you in spades!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative readings come in a pair, December 27, 2001

By 

Daniel Mandel (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Sibelius / Carl Nielsen: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

I bought this in 1989 when it first appeared and it remains one of my most frequently played discs. I expect to be able to make the same claim a decade from now.

Cho Liang Lin's artistry is breathtaking in both concertos and this disc probably represents the finest stereo recordings available of either work. Heifetz (1959) set the benchmark in the Sibelius and it is possible to argue that Lin matches if not exceeds him - an astonishing statement of a kind rarely made, one is sure. Everything works - the shimmering, quicksilver opening; the unfolding of the first movement's romantic theme; its closing toboggan ride (as I like to think of it); the intense but never stifling intensity of the slow movement and the "polonaise for polar bears" (Donald Tovey) of the finale - and is maintained at an incandescent level of inspiration.

The Nielsen is a very different work, inhabiting a different emotional sphere, both more subdued and diffuse. Like much in Nielsen it is emotionally enigmatic - such as the almost jarring transition from first to second subject in the first movement, but Lin believes in it and who can turn down two treasures on one disc?

This is one of those rare occasions in which a recording can be unreservedly recommended, whether at full price, half price or double price.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional, April 12, 2000

By 

J. Buxton "cantabile" (Waltham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jean Sibelius / Carl Nielsen: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

I'm not sure superlatives are enough for this Sibelius performance. This is without a doubt one of the best perfomances of this work ever committed to disc. It has the right amounts of mystery, sentimentality, and technical brilliance. The recorded sound is flawless and Salonen and the Philharmonia are dazzling. If you like this concerto you cannot be without this version. The Nielson was unknown to me, but I enjoyed it very much too and it has motivated me to check out more of Nielson's music. The Penguin Guide gave this disc very high praise and I couldn't agree more.