Sibelius: 'Finlandia' (suites & symphonic poems) [Original recording reissued]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Horst Stein (Conductor), Vladimir Ashkenazy (Conductor), L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Orchestra), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Elisabeth Söderström (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Elisabeth Söderström
• Orchestra: L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Horst Stein, Vladimir Ashkenazy
• Composer: Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041L7
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,413 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An admirable collection of musical treasures!, December 2, 2005

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sibelius: 'Finlandia' (suites & symphonic poems) (Audio CD)

Sibelius Finlandia must signify to his citizens the same meaning that Elgar `s Pomp and circumstance for the British people, the final expression of fervent, passionate and fevered feeling of brotherhood and national fervor. Vladmir Ashkenazy achieved an incisive and towering performance with the members of one of my beloved orchestras ever: The Philharmonia Orchestra. He extracted the musical vein in its whole expression and exultant boiling.

Karelia was also another artistic achievement, having in Colllins the maximum peak until this date. This version could be my second choice.

Tapiola Op. 112 ha a winner: Hans Rosbaud and Berlin Philharmonic in 1957 but Ashkenazy transmits us the essential and reminiscent echoes of Debussy 's La mer and obviously his Fourth Symphony through his intense performance. En Saga, in the glorious baton of Collins is simply unsurpassed, but this version is mercurial and very propulsive. Luonotar, Op. 70 is an exquisite version.

But what it is really worthy to remark is this sense of full aristocratic and committed approach; the horns, woods and strings of this Orchestra are pure gold. A colossal artistic triumph, and perhaps the major musical achievement of Ashkenazy as conductor, until this date.

Horst Stein conducted a very heartfelt performance of this superb musical treasure of Sibelius: The Four Legends are performed in just few opportunities. However, Erik Tuxen made a historical register in the early Fifties with the Royal Danish that still belong to the most prominent achievement ever made of this mythical work.

Pohjola 's Daughter has serious rivals: Koussevitzky and Toscanini and the night-Ride and Sunrise found in Essa Pekka Salonen a distinguished interpreter

In sum, an album to be collected, because in just two CD's for Sibelius newcomers constitutes a notable contribution and a very complete approach to the work of this noted composer: the most conspicuous and beloved musical son of Finland: Jean Sibelius.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, Sturdy Performances, January 9, 2002

By 

Karl Henning "Composer & Clarinetist" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sibelius: 'Finlandia' (suites & symphonic poems) (Audio CD)

With some composers, it seems that when it is a matter of writing symphonies, the music is a little graver, a little rhetorical, perhaps even a little long-winded and heavy-footed; but when such a composer turns to symphonic poems, or dances/ballet, the music is more imaginative, lighter in spirit and surer of foot, or even in some cases, just plain more inspired.

While Sibelius managed to write brilliant and engaging music in both "spheres," there are times when I feel [parts of] the symphonies are a little ruminative, a shade too self-absorbed ... and it is then that I find the tone-poems - in which he often, simply, sang, and sang for the sheer joy of singing - especially welcome.

This recording is one of those re-issues, which were originally two separate releases; so we have two different conductors, and two different orchestras, to discuss.

In general, I am not mad about Ashkenazy as a conductor; and in a sense, this recording is no exception ... I don't walk away thinking, "Wow, what a great conductor." But he is certainly a competent musician, and he does a creditable job here; the Philharmonia sounds fine for the most part. The brass are a little edgier in "Finlandia" than I quite like; and towards the end, the timpani are a little too wild. But on the whole, neither "Finlandia" nor the Karelia Suite is done any great hurt on the Ashkenazy half of this set.

The bright gem on this disc is "Luonnotar," a restless folk-ballad for soprano and orchestra. Elisabeth Söderström is splendid here. "Tapiola" and "En Saga" come across well, too.

Not a disc that you walk away saying, "Wow, what a great conductor"; but, "Wow, what great music."

The other disc is Horst Stein leading L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Any composer might design to follow Sibelius' example here: the program is "Night-Ride and Sunrise," "Pohjola's Daughter," and the four "Legends from the Kalevala" (including the well-loved, and often separately-peformed, "Swan of Tuonela"). Seventy-one minutes of music, and not a dull moment from start to finish.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very good recordings, September 21, 2003

By 

Sungu Okan "Can Okan" (Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sibelius: 'Finlandia' (suites & symphonic poems) (Audio CD)

This box set contains, all famous symphonic poems of Sibelius...

i think, especially, The Night-Ride and Sunrise and Leminkainen in Tuonela (No. 3 of suite) is best tracks in CD 2, perhaps these are among in Horst Stein's all recordings...L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (the orchestra of E. Ansermet) is very good...

In CD 1, all works recorded by Ashkenazy and his PO. Already, his all Sibelius recording are very good, and especially the performances of Finlandia and Karelia are best.

And Elisabeth Sodeström is very good on Luonottar. This is a lied-symphonic poem and not too known, but very interesting music. And based on famous Kalevala epic...

However, the tempos of "En saga" is very slow (aproxx. 20 min.)
But not bad. This symphonic poem is Sibelius' first succesful work and hasn't a programme.

In other words: this box set (at this price) very good and highly recommended for all Sibelius fans.