Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7; Finlandia; Pelléas and Mélisande

Spoken Word (Composer), Jean Sibelius (Composer), Leopold Stokowski (Conductor), Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leopold Stokowski
• Composer: Spoken Word, Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (August 12, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Guild
• ASIN: B0017RRDS2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,417 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Musically magical, technically fair, February 4, 2012

By 

Laszlo "CD Explorer" (Ashburn, VA (USA)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7; Finlandia; Pelléas and Mélisande (Audio CD)

The ocassion was 1953. An all-Sibelius concert in Helsinki, with the composer listening from home in Järvenpää (he was 88 then). The younger (by sixteen years) Stokowski does his magic here, no doubt. For those of us who love his conducting (he is always so full of fresh and compelling ideas!) this is a must. You can hear a piece in dozens of versions, but Stokie makes you listen to it afresh. It's magic because I simply don't know how he did it.

For his conducting and the sense of ocassion (CBS radio network announcements included) this is a great release. But the tape (or source) shows severe deterioration, becoming quite uncomfortable at times. You have to make a true effort to perceive the magic behind the distortion.

Worth it, anyway, depending on your priorities and the price offered.