Customer Reviews

Sibelius: Symphony No. 1; Finlandia

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This series of Sibelius recordings, done by Neeme Jarvi and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra were a landmark edition. Performed in about 1985, they mark an exceptionally fruitful period in Jarvi's career, and established him as one of the premier interpreters of Sibelius.

Jarvi's values are impeccable. He has a knack for carefully matching orchestra dynamics to the thematic structure. The opening lament and the eerie basoon canon in the second movement are perfect examples. The precision of the tympani in the scherzo movement is a hypnotic, almost shamanistic dance. In the finale movement the clarinet theme repeats and then the orchestra goes on in a tragic introspection that is the first hint of the troubled political atmosphere of turn of the century Finland.

Unlike the first symphony, Finlandia was a direct expression of the conflict with the Tsarist regime in Russia. Originally created as the music for a series of Tableaux the music was heavily reworked for symphonic performance. It became one of Sibelius' best known works and symbolised the stubborn, defiant Finnish nature confronted by oppression. The initial vox humana of the strings is restated throughout, always rising over the oppressive counter-themes until it becomes a victorious cry.

As stated Jarvi's work is superb, and the Gothenburg Orchestra is completely in control of it's tone qualities and dynamics. The performance is every bit as refreshing as if it has been recorded yesterday, with tremendous dymanic range.

The two best Sibelius 1sts I've ever heard were on LP. Barbirolli and the Halle and Maazel in Vienna, both of which have made it to CD, although I have heard neither in that format. Jarvi's recording is in almost demonstration quality digital sound, and is almost as good interpretively as the two I've mentioned. There is nothing provincial about the Gothenburg Symphony, as their many recordings have demonstrated. The first chair players are marvelous. The opening clarinet solo is spellbinding. Jarvi's tempos are moderate. There is none of the rushing forward then slowing down one experiences in so many other performances of this work. The momentum is palpable, building up to a beautiful chorale for all the strings at the peak of the last movement. On CD, I think Yoel Levi and the Atlanta Symphony are very good, too, but Jarvi's orchestra sounds more authentically Sibelian and the sound engineering is slightly better. Finlandia receives a crackerjack performance, one that will have you out of your seat at the ending. All in all, this is a notable accomplishment.

Sibby's 1st symphony is wondrous! And this performance is excellent. Get this one