Sibelius: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Finlandia [Box set]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Leif Segerstam (Conductor), Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leif Segerstam
• Composer: Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (March 21, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Ondine
• ASIN: B000CQNVSU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,657 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars for the Symphonies and Finlandia!, June 11, 2007

By 

Brian F Hudon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sibelius: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Finlandia (Audio CD)

If you have loved the Sibelius Symphonies as I have and have been searching for the one set to buy, this is that set. A Finnish conductor and orchestra make it all the better. The recorded sound is amazingingly clear and deep. The performances are rich, detailed and have a great urgency to them. There is I would say a tension to the performaces and excitement and more warmth than so much of the "icy" Sibelius that is out there on CD. The second is taken at a slower pace than some, but at no expense of structure. The first is my personal favorite in the set. Many conductors I think treat this as an early "romantic" Sibelius work (as though it is not "real" Sibelius) and it often comes off rather Tchaikovsky-ish. Not so here as here it definately sounds like Sibelius. I was also very impressed with the 7th, which despite its short length comes off as having great size and breadth, feeling more like a symphony at the length of a tone poem. My only gripe is the recording of the Sibelius violin concerto, which is simply not worthy of the rest of the set. Fortunately there are many good recordings of that concerto available.

The version of Finlandia in this set features chorus with it and it is sublime. A great bonus with the 7 symphonies.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Matter of Taste, but..., May 1, 2008

By 

C. Scott Harrison - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sibelius: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Finlandia (Audio CD)

Having just digested seven complete sets of Sibelius' symphonies, I too can pick and choose amongst the splendid offerings and find treasures. To my mind and ear, none of the complete sets are "clunkers". In fact, I find all of them to have great merit. I must admit, I do especially love Barbirolli and Collins.. the brashness of Davis(BSO)and Von K.'s suaveness and beauty, especially the 7th. But the Segerstam set really is all around exemplary. Fine performances, chilly yet with passion. Superb, realistic sound and interpretations that, while some might quibble with, are personal and interesting. Great set. Five stars!

23 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars As usual, it's mainly a matter of taste., July 5, 2006

By 

Jeffrey Lee (Asheville area, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sibelius: Complete Symphonies; Violin Concerto; Finlandia (Audio CD)

Segerstam's Sibelius will probably appeal more to those who appreciate a somewhat soft edged, relatively slower paced, more richly textured quality. In other words, if you like tauter, cleaner lines, a more vivid and energetic pace and a cooler interpretive style, then Segerstam may not be your man. There's no doubt he can be quite musically expressive, but the issue is in what way[s] ? One of the chief considerations with Sibelius is atmosphere. Aside from nature's colors playing a vital role, grandeur or an epic quality frequently demands representation. While Segerstam is capable of projecting a swelling sense of intensity when called for, I feel he doesn't reveal enough in the way of that Sibelian attribute of loftiness. However, the Sixth Symphony's recipe calls for a somewhat different set of ingredients. Though there are still aspects of the usual mystery and grandness, more flowing textures and some lighter considerations significantly come into play. Segerstam deals with these things in a most disarming way by bringing warmly expressive detail to what is often referred to as a wintry toned work. I do not rate him as highly however in the other symphonies...In the First, my main criticisms are along aesthetic grounds---his characterization of particular phrases, the prominence given to certain instrumental sections over others and some pauses that are too long...The popular Second Symphony is the kind of piece that runs the risk of being twisted and pulled excessively by some conductors. The worst case I'm familiar with is Thomas Schippers' New York Philharmonic account from the 1960s. Segerstam does not go that far, though I'm still not especially enamoured with his reading. Moreover, he does not entirely avoid some congestion. I also do not respond well to some of his heavier accents. My disappointment with his conception of the Fifth Symphony is based on similar grounds...I rate Segerstam's Third Symphony performance as being next best after his Sixth. It is nicely tuneful, although the final minutes of the last movement would have benefitted from a little more textural clarification...The conductor's perspective on the Seventh Symphony misses a taut, vivid quality. Musical lines could be cleaner. There's not much of that epic presence either...Finally, in the Fourth Symphony, Segerstam is appropriately dark and moody, but there has to be more evidence of life's vital signs. I find his pace too slow and his musical outline a bit spongy. There is another version of the Fourth that I feel stands above all others---Vanska's. Though his Lahti Symphony Orchestra does not enjoy the reputation of other greatly acknowledged ensembles, with Vanska at its helm it paints a compelling portrait of the symphony's mystery and starkness as it explores virtually every nook and cranny of its landscape...As for Finlandia, it begins in fairly routine fashion though near the close there is a nice contribution from the Male Polytech Choir; however, they and Segerstam never really bring the piece to inspired heights...In the Violin Concerto the conductor's mostly plodding pace carries all the way to the end. Though technically fine, violinist Pekka Kuusisto doesn't project much personality. There seems to be little range or depth of feeling in his rendition.

Here are my favorite choices for these pieces, not necessarily in order of preference: Sym.1--Maazel/Vienna Philharmonic, Collins/London Symphony ( All of Collins' Sibelius readings are in mono.) and Stokowski/National Philharmonic; Sym.2--Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra (Columbia/Sony) and Collins; Sym.3--Kamu/Helsinki Radio Symphony and Segerstam/Helsinki Philharmonic; Sym.4--Vanska, Maazel/Vienna and Collins; Sym.5--Bernstein/New York Philharmonic, Barbirolli/Halle Orchestra, Collins and Ormandy/Philadelphia Orch.(lp nla); Sym.6--Vanska, Collins, Karajan/Berlin Phiharmonic on EMI and Segerstam/Helsinki Phil.; Sym.7--Maazel/Vienna, Vanska, Collins and Koussevitzky; Finlandia--Ormandy/Philadelphia ( with Mormon Tabernacle Choir ), Collins and Ashkenazy/Philharmonia Orchestra; Violin Concerto--Oistrakh/Ormandy, Heifetz/Hendl and Repin/Krivine. Incidentally, the recorded sound on Segerstam's Ondine set is very fine.