Paavo Berglund RIP

[PJPJ]

Very sad news - an especially fine conductor whose Nielsen cycle I treasure.

R.I.P.

[rubbernecker]

The first half - Brahms' 2nd Piano Concerto with François-Frédéric Guy

Fascinating! Caliban can possibly confirm, I think it was the same Brahms with Brendel as soloist for us.

[pastoralguy]

For almost a year I used to have a 23 minute nocturnal (!!) commute to work. I can be so specific since I used to listen to his Sibelius 7 with the LPO (live) every journey. A wonderful performance that has never waned.

[LeMartinPecheur]

My very first orchestral concert, aged 16: Winchester Cathedral 29/7/71: Bournemouth SO/ Berglund - Handel Water Music suite No.1, Brhams Violin Concerto (Gyorgy Pauk), Sibelius 5. A very good place to start - many thanks PB and RIP.

[There's no place like Winchester Cathedral for hearing the last chords of the Sib last movement... At least I very much hope there isn't!]

[Mahlerei]

Berglund seems to have passed me by, so I've just ordered his DSCH 8 with the Russian National Orchestra to hear what I've been missing.

[bluestateprommer]

PB tributes from the Helsingin Sanomat

http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/Kapellimestari+Paavo+Berglund+on+kuollut/a1305554237167

http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/Musiikkimaailma+suree+Paavo+Berglundia/a1305554272903

I heard Berglund 3 times in concert, all in Europe, and I think that I even remember all the programs:

1. Gurzenich-Orchester, Cologne: Schubert 4 and Brahms 4 (I sat behind the orchestra)

2. NDR Symphony Orchestra:
Mussorgsky: Khovanschina Prelude
DSCH: Cello Concerto No. 1
Tchaikovsky 4

3. Oslo Philharmonic: Sibelius, Kullervo

[Cornucopia]

A great interpreter of Scandinavian music, but his talent did not stop there. For Bruckner and Brahms he also set a standard for others to follow and his readings of the Shostakovitch symphonies were of the finest.

RIP Paavo Berglund

CC

[amateur51]

Paavo Berglund, conductor
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
10 December 1971

Sibelius symphony no 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGP6IlXS_Ms

[Suffolkcoastal]

His recordings of Sibelius Kullervo, Shostakovich 7 and Vaughan Williams 6 were my introductions to these works. A very fine and still underappreciated conductor IMO.

RIP

[Panjandrum]

Love the story told here of his last interview with the doyen of them all.

[pastoralguy]

How long will it be until Ron Shafferty is stopped in his tracks? (He probably doesn't here the words 'You're fired! through all the drivel)

[salymap]

I never saw or heard Paavo Berglund but the missing VH/HS was very upset to hear of his death and wishes me to add his name to the messages here. He played in the recordings of Kullervo, Bruckner 3, Shostakovich 5 and broadcasts of Bruckner 4, and Sibelius 4 and 6, as well as producing for R3 broadcasts of Hary Janos and Shostakovich 7 and 10.

I wish I'd seen and heard PB conduct too, by the way.

[Barbirollians]

Sad news . A fine conductor whose Sibelius I know best and magnificent accompanying Haendel not only in Sibelius but also Britten and Walton.

[Bryn]

Having become decidedly enamoured of Berglund's Sibelius recordings I though it time I investigate his Nielsen symphonic survey, partly as a sort of act of hammage. I was surprised to find symphonies 1-4 at ridiculously low price via the amazon.co.uk marketplace, and numbers 5 & 6, though around three times the price, were still a bargain at under £6. However, I must admit to finding these performances a little lacking in rhythmic incisiveness when compared to the likes of Blomstedt or even Dausgaard. Not that there are not compensating aspects to these performances. Anyone know who the vocalist in the Sinfonia Espansiva as recorded by Berglund with the Royal Danish Orchestra? Strangely, they seem not to be credited in any of the associated paperwork.

[Barbirollians]

Well another credit for Paavo Berglund - his pioneering Bournemouth recording has led me to enjoy and listen straight through to Kullervo a work I have previously found to be interminable.