Favourite Sibelius cycle

[BBMmk2]

Finished listening to the whole of Rattle’s set now . The Fourth is just magnificent - outstrips the very fine Maazel for example and whilst not as bleak as the EMI Karajan it is probably more moving in its vulnerability. The Sixth still eludes me but could not elude me more beautifully.

That has to be quite a performance, to say the least?

[Kernow Malc]

It doesn't matter which cycle you have - they all play the same tunes.

[LMcD]

It doesn't matter which cycle you have - they all play the same tunes.

Unless your cycle happens to include the original version of the 5th symphony, as the Lahti/Vanska set, for one, does?
I don't think there are actually that many 'tunes' in Sibelius, but when one does arrive it's always been worth the wait.
In this respect, he follows the example of, among others, Beethoven - for example, there's only one real 'tune' in the Pastoral Symphony, and you have to survive the storm first!

[cloughie]

Unless your cycle happens to include the original version of the 5th symphony, as the Lahti/Vanska set, for one, does?
I don't think there are actually that many 'tunes' in Sibelius, but when one does arrive it's always been worth the wait.
In this respect, he follows the example of, among others, Beethoven - for example, there's only one real 'tune' in the Pastoral Symphony, and you have to survive the storm first!

Depends on how you define a tune - there are many bits of Sibelius I find myself singing or getting an earworm from!

[LMcD]

Depends on how you define a tune - there are many bits of Sibelius I find myself singing or getting an earworm from!

I'd love to hear your rendition of the tritone in the 4th symphony! (Actually, for a singer of your calibre, it's probably a morceau de gateau)

[cloughie]

I'd love to hear your rendition of the tritone in the 4th symphony! (Actually, for a singer of your calibre, it's probably a morceau de gateau)

I didn’t say all! But I’m sure with the requisite practice I could nail it!

[LMcD]

I didn’t say all! But I’m sure with the requisite practice I could nail it!

I do occasionally inflict my version of 'Thor swinging his hammer' on the lady wife if she's not quick enough to spot the signs and hurriedly leave the room. There are, I admit, quite a few nice tunes among Sibelius's many 'incidental' pieces, the most famous of which is possibly 'At the Castle Gate'.

[cloughie]

I do occasionally inflict my version of 'Thor swinging his hammer' on the lady wife if she's not quick enough to spot the signs and hurriedly leave the room. There are, I admit, quite a few nice tunes among Sibelius's many 'incidental' pieces, the most famous of which is possibly 'At the Castle Gate'.

Leminkainen’s Return?

[Pulcinella]

Leminkainen’s Return?

Ah: That's what the L stands for in LMcD is it?

[cloughie]

Ah: That's what the L stands for in LMcD is it?

Obviously wasn’t keen on Tuonela so no Swan song!

[LMcD]

Obviously wasn’t keen on Tuonela so no Swan song!

That reminds me of another fine ManTran song - Swansong d'Amour. (Sorry, couldn't resist)

[cloughie]

That reminds me of another fine ManTran song - Swansong d'Amour. (Sorry, couldn't resist)

Does that translate as ‘It’s all over now’?

[LMcD]

Does that translate as ‘It’s all over now’?

Could be - or perhaps that most dreaded of phrases often used in such situations' - 'We need to talk'

[cloughie]

Could be - or perhaps that most dreaded of phrases often used in such situations' - 'We need to talk'

Or Cliff’s ‘We don’t talk anymore’!

[Barbirollians]

Favourite Sibelius cycle

Interesting discussion on the Sibelius 6 BAL thread as to whether this composer's symphonies are the most disparate and most difficult to produce a cohesive complete cycle of .

A fair point - but if you do know a cycle which is your favourite ?

I have Davis RCA and LSO Live, Barbirolli, Maazel and Ashkenazy .

I suspect th fact the latter was my first might explain my fondness for it - but I like them all albeit in each cycle there are some performances I enjoy more than others .