Favourite Sibelius cycle

[pastoralguy]

I really wish EMI/WARNER would release Sir Alexander Gibson's recordings from the 1960's with the SNO. I had the Lps, bought in the Usher Hall at the Orchestra's Friend's Stall. Lovely performances which were preferable to the later set for Chandos.

No one could claim the SNO of that vintage were in the same league as Die Berliner Phiharmoniker or even the London Orchestras but there was a leaness to their sound that suits Sibelius well. (I also wish the SNO/Boult Elgar 2 would be released too).

Just checked and found that 1 & 5 were released on CfP although, afaik, there's no No.2. Symphonies 3 & 7 were on the SAGA label so goodness knows where the master tapes are!

[AmpH]

The recordings by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under Rozhdestvensky on Melodiya may be a little rough around the edges but make for thrilling listening... if you can find them as they appear to be difficult to get hold of now.

[cloughie]

I really wish EMI/WARNER would release Sir Alexander Gibson's recordings from the 1960's with the SNO. I had the Lps, bought in the Usher Hall at the Orchestra's Friend's Stall. Lovely performances which were preferable to the later set for Chandos.

No one could claim the SNO of that vintage were in the same league as Die Berliner Phiharmoniker or even the London Orchestras but there was a leaness to their sound that suits Sibelius well. (I also wish the SNO/Boult Elgar 2 would be released too).

Just checked and found that 1 & 5 were released on CfP although, afaik, there's no No.2. Symphonies 3 & 7 were on the SAGA label so goodness knows where the master tapes are!

I agree there pg - reissue of EMI/CfPs has been inconsistent - slightly off the Sibelius topic - the Berglund Franck Symphony and Handley’s Debussy/Faure disc would be very welcome!

[jayne lee wilson]

The recordings by the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra under Rozhdestvensky on Melodiya may be a little rough around the edges but make for thrilling listening... if you can find them as they appear to be difficult to get hold of now.

Fascinating, that one, isn't it?
Out of left field for sure, but part of the pleasure with Rozh is that you often have absolutely no idea what he's going to do next...
You've inspired me to take this out again.... probably starting at 3 though, just to get my ear in before needing the safety belt...

As ever with Melodiya, HQ downloads/streams are scarce, lossy codecs will do the somewhat idiosyncratic sound few favours, and 2ndhand CDs long since went price-stratospheric...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphonies-Moscow-Radio-symphony-Orchestra/dp/B003GT37LG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24ZXDEI5TYZFC&dchild=1&keywords=sibelius+rozhdestvensky&qid=1592512230&sprefix=sibelius+rosh%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1

[LeMartinPecheur]

In my first tottering steps into classical music as a schoolboy and student I didn't have the money for 'complete symphonies' boxes, and in any case I'd picked up via record reviews in Gramophone etc that it was very rare for such boxes to deliver complete satisfaction across all works. So my first attempts at getting the 'best' Sibelius symphony recordings were 1 Maazel, 2 Halle/ Barbirolli, 3 Okko Kamu, 4 Beecham (World Record Club), 5 PO/ Rattle, 6/7 Karajan. But into the CD era I've succumbed to cycles from Collins, Halle/ Barbirolli, BSO/ Berglund and 'other-BSO'/ Davis. All give satisfaction, as do a big bucket-load more single discs, LP and CD.

Sib 2 was one of the first symphonies I discovered for myself - via the Halle/ Barbirolli recording snapped up as a mono deletion in a WHS sale c.1971. It's still the Sib symphony I have most recordings of. On top of the above sets there's RPO and NYPO/ Barbirolli, Hannikainen, SNO/ Gibson (CfP), Concertgebouw/ Szell, Gothenburg SO/ N. Jarvi and BBCSO/ Beecham. Enough to keep me going...probably

Of the cycles I have a special affection for the Barbirolli. Very far from perfect, often ragged, seat-of-pants flying, but at its best hugely exciting. Perfection of ensemble isn't always everything!

[Petrushka]

I have many (too many?) complete Sibelius cycles: Colin Davis (x3), Barbirolli, Rattle, Maazel, Bernstein and, one not so far mentioned which is my own personal favourite - Paavo Berglund and the Helsinki Philharmonic.

Such a shame that Karajan didn't record the 3rd but I otherwise have all that he did. Karajan's 1970s EMI 4th is probably my favourite Sibelius disc of all but his mono 1953 4th with the Philharmonia is hardly less special.

[AmpH]

Fascinating, that one, isn't it?
Out of left field for sure, but part of the pleasure with Rozh is that you often have absolutely no idea what he's going to do next...
You've inspired me to take this out again.... probably starting at 3 though, just to get my ear in before needing the safety belt...

As ever with Melodiya, HQ downloads/streams are scarce, lossy codecs will do the somewhat idiosyncratic sound few favours, and 2ndhand CDs long since went price-stratospheric...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphonies-...s%2C149&sr=8-1

Yes, in any repertoire, Rozhdestvensky like say Kondrashin and Svetlanov is rarely less than compelling.

Enjoy the ride !!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have full cycles by Maazel and Barbirolli, plus an incomplete one with Bernstein. Maazel is my flagship cycle, but I particularly like Barbirolli’s Pye recording of number 1. His much earlier recording with the New York PO is very exciting, and much faster than his later recordings.

[BBMmk2]

Well, I don’t have Vänskä’s, bit I think the ones I have that stand out are Sakari Oromo’s, Storgards and I think Berglund’s should get a mention too.

I have Oramo, Anthony Collins, (included in the set Great Sibelius Performances), Berglund, Barbirolli and Ashkenazy.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Well, I don’t have Vänskä’s, bit I think the ones I have that stand out are Sakari Oromo’s, Storgards and I think Berglund’s should get a mention too.

I have Oramo, Anthony Collins, (included in the set Great Sibelius Performances), Berglund, Barbirolli and Ashkenazy.

BBM, which Berglund?

[kea]

I have too many of these for my own good.
Barbirolli - Hallé
Berglund - Bournemouth Symphony
Bernstein - New York Phil
Blomstedt - San Francisco Symphony
Järvi - Orchestre de Paris
Sakari - Iceland Symphony
Sanderling - Berlin Symphony
Segerstam - Danish National Radio Symphony

Conductors with names not starting with B or S remain inexplicably neglected in my complete cycle collection.

Overall favourites:
1: Rouvali - Göteborg; Mägi - Uppsala
2: Bernstein - New York; Järvi - Paris
3: Mustonen - Helsinki Festival; Mägi - Uppsala
4: Maazel - Vienna; Mägi - Uppsala; Sanderling - Berlin
5: Berglund - Bournemouth; Vänskä - Lahti
6: Rosbaud - Köln Radio; Blomstedt - San Francisco
7: Szell - Cleveland; Maazel - Vienna

I don't think I've ever "connected" with 2 or 7 honestly but I still listen to them sometimes and don't usually regret it.

[cloughie]

I have too many of these for my own good.
Barbirolli - Hallé
Berglund - Bournemouth Symphony
Bernstein - New York Phil
Blomstedt - San Francisco Symphony
Järvi - Orchestre de Paris
Sakari - Iceland Symphony
Sanderling - Berlin Symphony
Segerstam - Danish National Radio Symphony

Conductors with names not starting with B or S remain inexplicably neglected in my complete cycle collection.

Overall favourites:
1: Rouvali - Göteborg; Mägi - Uppsala
2: Bernstein - New York; Järvi - Paris
3: Mustonen - Helsinki Festival; Mägi - Uppsala
4: Maazel - Vienna; Mägi - Uppsala; Sanderling - Berlin
5: Berglund - Bournemouth; Vänskä - Lahti
6: Rosbaud - Köln Radio; Blomstedt - San Francisco
7: Szell - Cleveland; Maazel - Vienna

I don't think I've ever "connected" with 2 or 7 honestly but I still listen to them sometimes and don't usually regret it.

Szell 7?

[Barbirollians]

I don't know how I forgot the Halle/Barbirolli set especially as I mentioned how much better No1 sounded on CD. I love it too but I don't play those recordings very often - though the awesome NYPO Symphony No1 and the legendary RPO No2 get frequent airings.

[HighlandDougie]

Szell 7?

See: https://www.discogs.com/The-Clevelan...elease/5054749

A much sought after set. Alas, rarer than hen's teeth.

[Bryn]

Not part of a 'cycle' but in addition to the RPO 2nd, the Nixa Halle 5th with Barbirolli at the helm remains special to me as the first LP of the work I ever purchased (in its Pye Golden Guinea manifestation).