Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite · Luonnotar · Nightride and Sunrise / Royal Stockholm P.O. · Paavo Järvi

Jean Sibelius (Artist), Paavo Jarvi (Artist), Solveig Kringelborn (Artist), Elemer Lavotha (Artist), Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics Imports
• ASIN: B000002SQY
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,724 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Nightride And Sunrise, Op.55: Tone Poem - Royal Stockholm Phil Orch/Paavo Jarvi

2. Luonnotar, Op.70: Tone Poem For Sop And Orch - Solveig Kringelborn

3. Lemminkainen Ste, Op.22: I. Lemminkainen And The Maidens Of The Island

4. Lemminkainen Ste, Op.22: II. The Swan Of Tuonela

5. Lemminkainen Ste, Op.22: III. Lemminkainen in Tuonela

6. Lemminkainen Ste, Op.22: IV. Lemminkainen's Homeward Journey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for the Sunrise, January 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite · Luonnotar · Nightride and Sunrise / Royal Stockholm P.O. · Paavo Järvi (Audio CD)

I found this to be a mixed bag -- the lesser known items from Lemminkainen are played with vim and vigor but that can only accomplish so much, and the central Swan of Tuonela is not on par with the best versions. Luonnotar is given a gripping performance, at a tempo moderately quicker than the elder Jarvi's recent DG version -- I found Paavo's approach more succesful, with a more blended vocal line. The highlight of the disc for me was Night Ride and Sunrise, given a emotionally powerful and communicative performance that leaves one wondering why it is not better known. Lastly, I disagree with our friend from Gramophone -- I can't imagine better sound. Worthwhile for all Sibelians, especially if your collection is without the first piece.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ...Finnish legend, April 18, 2003

By 

David (Spruce Grove, AB Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite · Luonnotar · Nightride and Sunrise / Royal Stockholm P.O. · Paavo Järvi (Audio CD)

I made the mistake of buying this disc without realizing that I had Lemminkainen Suite on another recording, Jukka-Pekka Saraste version. I could not distinguish any direct differences that I could make between the both...it was more or less hearing the same music. Of Course that is something I should expect. What stands out about this particular disc is the two lesser known works that are seldom covered.

Nightrise And Sunrise is simply wonderful. The origin is made by the suggestion that a average man (perhaps even Sibelius himself) finds himself riding solitary through the forest. What starts as a uneven ride with broken sleep turns towards the sun glimmering through the trees. His mind is overcome by relief, the sun is warm and secure, home is near.

Luonnotar is performed very rarely, most certainly because it's technical demading of the Finnish language, very few non Finnish singers have dared to take up the challenge.

In the past Lemminkainen as a whole was never represented in all four parts with only "The Swan Of Tuonela" being the stand out, the second of four legends. The Swan Of Tuonela, a lonely swan glides through the land of dead, represented orchestrally by wonderful solo parts for the cor anglais. Sibelius scene painting is nowhere more effective. According to the Kalevala legend, Lemminkainen had to kill the swan of Tuonela in order to make Pohjola's daughter his wife. However in doing so Lemminkainen himself would be killed and hacked to pieces. His mother would collect all the pieces and bring her son back to life. The Kalevala legend is a national symbol for most Finns and would be several inspirations to Sibeilus works.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tepid readings, provincial orchestra, but wonderful music, February 21, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite · Luonnotar · Nightride and Sunrise / Royal Stockholm P.O. · Paavo Järvi (Audio CD)

There are budget reissues of this Virgin CD from Paavo Jarvi and the Royal Stockholm orchestra, and anyone who doesn't know Sibelius' great Four Legends might want to start with it. The recorded sound is warm and full, and the Royal Stockholm orchestra sounds reasonably good. As other reviewers note, the rarely heard vocal scene, Luonnotar, is the musical highlight here, perhaps along with the Night Ride and Sunrise tone poem. But Lemminkanen contains the greatest music, and here Jarvi is underhwelming. One only has to listen to his tepid Swan of Tuonela (the second Legend) to yearn for great readings from a host of conductors, including Stokowski, Bernstein, and Karajan. As for the Legends, the hard-to-find Moscow Phil. recording under Vassily Sinaisky bursts with life and passion--it will make a convert of anyone.