Customer Reviews

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2; Finlandia

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A cold chill always seems to emanate from the music of Sibelius, whether it takes the form of Sibelius command of his orchestral forces or merely the depraved moodiness of his melodies. That being said, this is a great Sibelius recording. Yoel Levi calmly harnesses this coolness and forges it for maximum impact on this Cleveland Orchestra recording. Telarc's sound is abrubpt and close. Razor sharp sound quality gives an ironic presence to the recurring, but tiny foreboding element of the first movement every time it rears its omminous head, betraying all the light fluff around it. Things really get serious with the second movement. It is a tragic cliff-hanger: taught and brash. Hold onto your hat for movements III & IV. The Vivicissimo races past with lightning intensity until the Finale carries you away in blissful triumph. The last minute and a half are so powerful that you may forget to breathe. Top that off with a somber but spirited rendition of Finlandia and you cannot go wrong with this disc. It makes for a very satisfied listener.

I've performed, conducted, and heard this symphony more times than I can count, but always had trouble with it in recordings. So many of the leading recordings struck me as overly stylized ... until this one. Finally, Sibelius' Second Symphony in a performance more faithful to the score! Instead of Sibelius' Second "through the lens of conductor X," Levi and the uncannily precise Cleveland Orchestra give a striking, inspiring, vivid, brilliant performance that doesn't lag or rush and never loses its suspension of energy and structure. Cleveland's strings, as usual, have a rich and centered sound, but also a clarity (especially in the lightning-fast third movement) that is perfect for this symphony. The winds are colorful, well-phrased and always in tune. The brass have the trademark Cleveland sound--powerful and punchy, but never out of control. Telarc's ultra-clear early digital technology creates an optimal soundscape for this particular piece. There is no compression of dynamics, so the whisper-quiet passages are presented with amazing detail. Rounding out the recording is a fine performance of Finlandia, a piece that sounds rather quaint next to the Symphony. If you're looking for a recording of Sibelius' Second that will stand the test of time, this is it.

I fully echo D. Seymour's comments, although I would put it rather differently. This was Yoel Levi's second CD for Telarc. The first, selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, was recorded in Severance Hall, and the sound was not up to Telarc's high standards. For the Sibelius, Telarc returned to the Masonic Auditorium, where it had made its excellent recordings with Lorin Maazel. The results on this CD are considerably better sonically. The orchestra is well blended, full sounding, and displaying none of the glare typical of early digital sound. In fact, the sound is natural enough that it doesn't call attention to itself. The performance was well worth the engineers' efforts. Levi was in the last year of his Associate Conductorship with the Cleveland, and the Orchestra played for him in a manner we are accustomed to from his Atlanta recordings. It's a very different sound than that accorded Christoph von Dohnanyi. There is great concentration between the sections of the orchestra, and note values are always fully realized. Levi's tempos in the Symphony are slightly brisk, although he can release the reigns in the more lyrical passages. The solo wind and brass playing is outstanding. I especially enjoyed oboist John Mack, reprising his role in George Szell's 1970 concert performance of the Symphony. In sum, given the excellence of the Cleveland Orchestra, this recording is comparable to the vintage accounts of Ormandy in 1957 and Barbirolli's with the Royal Philharmonic. It is less Romantic than those versions, and may as a consequence be better for repeated listening. I played it twice the first night I had it. Finlandia chugs along nicely, but the Symphony is the main feature here.

I listen to this CD over and over, yet never tire of it. The richness of the strings marries with the very tender performance to produce a wonderful recording of several of Sibelius's most beautiful works. Technically, a practically flawless recording.

A surprisingly chilly, indifferent performance of a beautiful work. There is precision - for the most part - but lacking a sense of urgency or affection. The engineering favors the strings and highlights the warmth and virtuosity of the Cleveland strings, but leaves their fabled brass distant and down right tiny (and tinny) sounding. It never ceases to amaze how so much can be rendered into so little. A shame, really.

katy4books was a pleasure to deal with and I plan to continue shopping with them for future CD needs. The best part, aside from the flawless disc, was the hand-written note at the bottom of the shipping form advising me to enjoy my CD!! I've never experienced such personalized customer service = definitely "a keeper!"

Many thanks to katy4books for such a pleasant shopping experience.

There is something seriously amiss with the opening of Finlandia. There is a huge edit after the first statement in the low brass. The decay is chopped off, and this wreaks havoc with the pacing here. Not a good way to start. But the fundamental question is: why would there be an edit here anyway? The Cleveland Orchestra should not need an edit after the first two notes of anything. An embarrassing mistake on the part of Telarc's production team.

I'm so put off by this that I haven't tried the rest of the disc. The three stars are for a reserved judgment on it.