Favourite Sibelius cycle

[amateur51]

Another vote for the Vanska from me, too. (And, as Cali points out [#7] you get the original version of #5 as well as the published one. Cali's also right about excellence of the performance of the "real"#5.)

And no wobbly sopranos to be heard

[amateur51]

Is this thread an attempt to lure back King Christian from Devon?

[makropulos]

So we are after some recommendations for a complete set of Sibelius symphonies
we probably have most of them in various versions
but a complete cycle in all their moomin glory would be perfect

I thought there was a Salonen set (which would be my first choice) but alas not

so over to you CD anoraks

My current favourite is probably Berglund/Bournemouth SO on EMI - very good value too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sibelius-Complete-Symphonies-Tapiola-Finlandia/dp/B0091JQH2Q/ref=sr_1_1

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is this thread an attempt to lure back King Christian from Devon?

He only appeared very briefly here and then vanished. There was no controversy and it was sad that he didn't stay.

[Nick Armstrong]

And no wobbly sopranos to be heard

You know me so well!

[Nick Armstrong]

- ah, the joys of the Edit button!

A gentleman as well as a scholar. As we knew!

[DublinJimbo]

Vänskä, Vänskä, Vänskä.

The original Lahti set is superb, but now that Minnesota has sorted out its labour problems and Osmo has returned to the helm the re-visit with these new forces will no doubt be completed by BIS. Certainly, the first two offerings (2 & 5 and 1 & 4) suggest that this new set will turn into the 21st Century benchmark.

[Beef Oven!]

Vänskä, Vänskä, Vänskä.

The original Lahti set is superb, but now that Minnesota has sorted out its labour problems and Osmo has returned to the helm the re-visit with these new forces will no doubt be completed by BIS. Certainly, the first two offerings (2 & 5 and 1 & 4) suggest that this new set will turn into the 21st Century benchmark.

Segerstam, Segerstam, Segerstam!

The Helsinki set is the gold standard, the Danish Radio set is gloriously indulgent, with some seriously 'Goodallian' tempi!

Vanska is on a par though

[visualnickmos]

....the 21st Century benchmark.

Gosh! A confident and bold assertion - bearing in mind there is* another 86 years of opportunity for recording the set still available!

Sadly none of us will be around to know if you are right.....

* I never know whether "is" or "are" is the correct form here...... can either be possible?

[cloughie]

Vänskä, Vänskä, Vänskä.

The original Lahti set is superb, but now that Minnesota has sorted out its labour problems and Osmo has returned to the helm the re-visit with these new forces will no doubt be completed by BIS. Certainly, the first two offerings (2 & 5 and 1 & 4) suggest that this new set will turn into the 21st Century benchmark.

I still like Collins the 1950s benchmark!

[verismissimo]

Kajanus, Kajanus, Kajanus?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Notcompletus, Notcompletus, Notcompletus.

[Tony Halstead]

Notcompletus, Notcompletus, Notcompletus.

[EdgeleyRob]

£6.99 for all the symphonies and loads of other things including the violin concerto. MP3 download - Vanska -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004Z4O440/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But one should not overlook the two cycles by Segerstam. The Helsinki cycle, I think is tops, although the much broader tempi on the Danish Radio Symphony cycle makes this set very entertaining.

But then you can't go wrong with the analogue (?) Ashkenazy first cycle on Decca.

Best wait for EdgeleyRob to give his view, he's a Sibelius aficionado, I believe.

Righty ho.

Ashkenazy/Philharmonia.
Brilliant playing,super (almost demonstration at times?) sound,shame about the music.
Also,it's the only set I have.

[umslopogaas]

Apologies if this has already been pointed out, but the Storgards set on Chandos doesnt include the Kullervo Symphony, though it does include "Three Late Fragments". It seems as though Sibelius is commonly thought to have composed seven symphonies and the Kullervo Symphony, as though the latter was somehow not a part of the set. Do any of the other sets mentioned include the Kullervo?