Sibelius Kullervo on BBC Four tonight.

[Nick Armstrong]

I had the privilege of working with him both as a player and as a producer for some of his BBC recordings.

He was a left-handed conductor - a bit disconcerting at first, but he could also play the violin left or right handed, regardless of the way it was strung.

This leads me to little anecdote, which gives an indication of his character:

A very cold morning and the leader "had a moment" of horror early on. The wind and brass sniggered with delight.
Berglund took the fiddle and bow from the leader's hands and played it perfectly left-handed! He addressed the wind players:

"You wind players can always justify a mistake by blowing into some keyholes or emptying something out. We string players have no such excusers to offer to justify the occasional slip up. Show us a little kindness!"

VH

Nice anecdote! I love the concept of sniggering brass players. As a trombonist, I think I chuckle rather than snigger, but it matters little... !

For a glimpse of Berglund in action, can't resist posting again the tremendous clip that amateur51 posted originally I think, where PB is working with Bolet in rehearsal. Fantastic to see two masters getting down to the real business. And the end is hilarious, they've done what they have to do, appear to have no clue when the band is due, and seem ready to nip to the pub..

[amateur51]

Nice anecdote! I love the concept of sniggering brass players. As a trombonist, I think I chuckle rather than snigger, but it matters little... !

For a glimpse of Berglund in action, can't resist posting again the tremendous clip that amateur51 posted originally I think, where PB is working with Bolet in rehearsal. Fantastic to see two masters getting down to the real business. And the end is hilarious, they've done what they have to do, appear to have no clue when the band is due, and seem ready to nip to the pub..

Great anecdote, VH - many thanks

And on Cailban's suggestion, here's the rehearsal clip again twixt Jorge Bolet (lookit those hands! lookit those eyes!!) and Paavo Berglund - so business-like and professional. Where's Ariosto when you need him, to rub his nose in it about (some) conductors being special too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=633pgaoZPTQ

[french frank]

A pity if Finlandia was not included in the telecast (haven't had the chance to see it yet) because that 1992 concert ended with the choral version of Finlandia which many listeners would have been unfamiliar with.

Hello - and welcome, second fiddle.

You seem to have inside knowledge! Were you involved in the performance?

[Nick Armstrong]

Great anecdote, VH - many thanks

And on Cailban's suggestion, here's the rehearsal clip again twixt Jorge Bolet (lookit those hands! lookit those eyes!!) and Paavo Berglund - so business-like and professional. Where's Ariosto when you need him, to rub his nose in it about (some) conductors being special too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=633pgaoZPTQ

DOH!!!! I forgot to paste the link in my answer! Many thanks for making good, Ammy!

[amateur51]

DOH!!!! I forgot to paste the link in my answer! Many thanks for making good, Ammy!

I was covering for ya, kid

[Nick Armstrong]

I was covering for ya, kid

Good to know you've got my back, Butch!!!

[amateur51]

Good to know you've got my back, Butch!!!

You n your big blue eyes

Mandy'll be on in a sulk any moment now

[Ventilhorn]

Thanks for that Roehre, The 2 LP set was issued by HMV on SLS 807.
Kullervo Symphony Op.7 was coupled with Kuolema Op.44 -Scene with cranes and SWAN WHITE - Incidental music

Recorded in November 1970 in Southampton and given subsequently in the Royal Festival Hall a few days later.

Paavo Berglund who was born in 1929 was a violinist inthe Finnish Radio Orchestra who subsequently became its Musical Director and drew international acclaim.
He made frequent guest appearences with the BSO subsequently and eventually became Chief Conductor; making many recordings of the works of Sibelius.

I had the privilege of working with him both as a player and as a producer for some of his BBC recordings.

VH

I made the mistake of omitting an important part of Robert Layton's sleeve notes from the HMV recording (which was the first time a recording of Kullervo was made) regarding Berglund's interpretations:

"...He is renowned for his interpretation of the music of Sibelius and undertook extensive research into the original manuscripts of the score of the Kullervo Symphony in preparation for this recording."

Enough said.

VH

[secondfiddle]

Hello - and welcome, second fiddle.

You seem to have inside knowledge! Were you involved in the performance?

No, it is just a work I like and I have a tape of the 1992 Barbican broadcast, as well as what I think was its first broadcast in this country, with Bergland conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra - before he made the recording with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. but stupidly I didn't note the date.For good measure I also have Berglund doing it from the 1980 Savonlinna Festival and in 1982 with the Scottish Orchestra in Edinburgh. Berglund apparently used to conduct the work regularly in Finland.

[BBMmk2]

I have the Sir Colin Davis recording, so, although I havnt watched it yet, i hope to soon, as thanks to Sky+ I taped it!

[RobertLeDiable]

I agree with Ventilhorn that Berglund provides the benchmark in Sibelius performance, and that he set the standard for the younger generation of Finnish conductors. In fact, I believe he's revered by them. I don't really know why Sir Colin seems to be regarded as a great Sibelius conductor in this country. Beecham, Barbirolli and, for that matter, Gibson were much better.

[Ventilhorn]

I agree with Ventilhorn that Berglund provides the benchmark in Sibelius performance, and that he set the standard for the younger generation of Finnish conductors. In fact, I believe he's revered by them. I don't really know why Sir Colin seems to be regarded as a great Sibelius conductor in this country. Beecham, Barbirolli and, for that matter, Gibson were much better.

Complete agreement with what you say, much as I have always admired Colin Davis' work - but he is really the Berlioz top man for me.

.......and regarding Sibelius, don't rule out Malcolm Sargent. His LP of Symphony Nº 1 is a cracker!

VH

[salymap]

Complete agreement with what you say, much as I have always admired Colin Davis' work - but he is really the Berlioz top man for me.

.......and regarding Sibelius, don't rule out Malcolm Sargent. His LP of Symphony Nº 1 is a cracker!

VH

I quite agree VH.

[Biffo]

Even if Barbirolli and Beecham were better than Sir Colin Davis it doesn't preclude him from being a great Sibelius conductor as well. I have always enjoyed his Boston performances (especially No 2) more than his later LSO (for RCA) and LSO Live discs but he rarely disappoints me. My only encounter with Gibson in Sibelius is on a disappointing recording of No 5 and I wouldn't want to judge him solely on that.

[Nick Armstrong]

.......and regarding Sibelius, don't rule out Malcolm Sargent. His LP of Symphony Nº 1 is a cracker!

VH

My dad tells the tale of going to hear Sargent conduct Sibelius 2 in Nottingham in his student days, and being so overwhelmed by the fabulous performance that he took the wrong bus home and was out half the night!