Panorama: Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Okko Kamu (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Herbert von Karajan, Okko Kamu
• Composer: Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00004XN6L
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,421 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation, October 17, 2000

By 

Mr JB (Karlskrona Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panorama: Jean Sibelius (Audio CD)

Here we have a gathering of the finest performances of the most wellknown Sibelius-works available in the archives of Deutsche Gramophone. 2 CD's for the price of one makes up for a great bargain. Karajan, as always, is focused in creating a mix of as much beauty and power as possible. In this kind of music it works off quite well, especially in the Finlandia, The Swan of Tounela and the 5th symphony, that all are exceptionally fine. The violin concerto and the 'valse triste', though, are wellplayed and beautiful (that goes for violin soloist Ferras too) - yes - but lacking some nerve and passion, and especially the valse trist is done a little too slow.

Okku Kamu's, the other baton-holder of this compilation, account begins very good with a splendid performance of the Karelia suit that shows his understanding of the works diversity - he and the Helsinki SO sounds natural, charming and playful - yet intense and making you feel the underlying seriousness that always is there in Sibelius music. His rendition of the 2nd symphony, a work about the finnish emotions and patriotic struggle against a greater power (Russia, Sweden), is - emotional, dark and vivid. Here he plays with the Berliner PO (as is the case with all the Karajan tracks) who produces great detail to what is an over all splendid performance.

All together, most of the performances on this CD is top-of-the-list. The fact that two of them aren't (the Valse triste and the violin concerto), does, however, not mean that they're bad, not at all. Karajan brings forth the splendid beauty in Sibelius' music, while Kamu finds more of the natural aspects, seriousness and mysticism. They're a perfect match, giving you an extremely good compilation of a great semi-modern composer at his best. So if you want a good glimpse of what is so great about Sibelius - you just can't afford to miss this record.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, May 19, 2004

By 

Dr John Shand - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panorama: Jean Sibelius (Audio CD)

On the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Christian Ferras. Astonishingly underrated. I was quite overwhelmed by it. (Only David Oistrakh is any thing like as good.) None of the showy scraping `gypsy' violin style, just nobility, power, strength and seriousness, which is just what Sibelius is said to have wanted. Apparently, Sibelius marked a slower tempo in the first movement than he might have done just to deter violinists from using it for virtuoso display. Ferras plays this piece as if it were a symphony: passionate with a superb full tone and magnificent intonation. Very good recording quality too. Karajan gives him just the right support: dark, powerful, purposive. Ferras isn't quite as well known these days as some other violinists - this may be partly owning to the fact that he died comparatively young, aged only 49 in 1982. I can't recommend it too highly. The Karajan Sibelius 5 is well-known as superb. Just list to the horns at the beginning of the last movement. Kamu's Sibelius 2 is less well-known, but is magnificent. The Berlin Phil brass play wonderfully, as do the rest of the orchestra - the ending, as is not always the case manages to be infinitely powerful without being bombastic.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb 5th of Sibelius, June 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Panorama: Jean Sibelius (Audio CD)

Alot of people just don't understand how great Herbert K really was...Sibelius himself said he was the only conductor who fully understood his music! Add to that the intensity of tone and wonderful focused sound of the Berlin Phil and you have a group that seemed designed to perform Sibelius..

The Valse Triste of Sibelius has never been played better by anyone..only Beecham is the competitor in this field...Kamu is super in the Second and generates alot of electricity...he is a very underrated musician today..Check Kamu out with Berwald on Naxos.