Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 [Import]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Colin Davis (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Colin Davis
• Composer: Jean Sibelius
• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Lso Live UK
• ASIN: B00026KGX8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,596 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sound and playing in Sir Colin Davis' most recent Sibelius 5 and 6, September 20, 2005

By 

Alan Majeska "Alan Majeska" (Bad Axe, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Audio CD)

This is a beautiful CD in every way, and my first exposure to the LSO LIVE label. I am familiar with this label only from reviews I've read in AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE of Sir Colin Davis's recordings of Berlioz operas, Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, this Sibelius disc, and Sibelius Symphonies 3 and 7. I am very impressed with the whole production: the graphics/design of the disc cover, insert, and program notes on the music and conductor. The disc inside, too, does not disappoint. Both sound and playing are great in this, Sir Colin's most recent Sibelius 5 and 6.

Davis is no stranger to Sibelius Symphonies, having recorded the complete cycle for Philips with the Boston Symphony (Duo Series, 2 double CD sets) in the late 1970s, and again with the London Symphony for RCA (available individually, and in a 7 disc set with other orchestral works). Now, LSO Live has released live concert performances of Symphonies 5 and 6; these are not the same as the RCA recordings. Davis uses lean orchestral textures, and taut, muscular phrasing resulting in Sibelius which is clear and fresh, like ice, or pure crystal: very beatiful and true to the spirit of Sibelius's music and his native Finland.

I have heard the Davis/Boston recording of these works, and here Sir Colin is clearly better in Symphony 5 than he was 25+ years earlier. Symphony 6, previously well played and recorded in Boston, is here very fine, yet different. I can't articulate why the more recent LSO recordings are superior; perhaps longer study with the works at hand, and the presence of a live audience has the London Symphony playing at a higher level than the Boston Symphony had in the studio in the late 1970s.

You can't go wrong with this: grab it while it's still available, and at an almost give away price to boot.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sibelius: Symphonies 5 & 6, June 26, 2007

By 

Ellex (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful album for a Sibelius fan or any lover of classical music. The sound quality is fabulous, capturing a marvelous performance with crystal clarity. The liner notes are very informative, too!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb performances of Sibelius's 5th and 6th Symphonies, August 6, 2004

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Audio CD)

Critics are hailing Sir Colin Davis's ongoing cycle of Sibelius's symphonies as his best (I saw a very favorable review of this recording in The New York Times over a month ago.), eclipsing in quality his critically acclaimed recordings with the London Symphony (RCA) and Boston Symphony (Philips). I haven't heard the CD of the 3rd and 7th symphonies, but am eager to hear it, after hearing these splendid live recordings. Sibelius was one of the few composers who wrote evocatively of nature repeatedly. His most "pastoral" symphony has to be the 5th symphony, with a recurring motif based on swan calls repeating through all three movements. Here Sir Colin Davis does an excellent job capturing the lyrical, dramatic aspects of the score with the London Symphony Orchestra. The more traditional 6th symphony is also well played. LSO Live sound engineers - or rather, those contracted to the LSO - have produced yet another well-balanced live recording that is as fine as any from a recording studio.