Favourite Sibelius cycle

[Beef Oven!]

We all have our personal favorites and I have not heard many of the choices out there.

1. Davis/BSO
2. Monteux /LSO
3. Saraste/Helsinki
4. Von K/Berlin
5. Barbiroli
6. Vanska Lahti
7. Blomstedt/S.F
Tapiola Von K

At the moment (changes daily)

I will say:

1. Bernstein VPO DG
2. Karajan BPO 1980 EMI (sorry Bryn & Barbirollians!)
3. Vanska Lahti BIS
4. Karajan BPO 1965 DG
5. Karajan BPO 1965 DG
6. ?
7. Ashkenazy Philharmonia Decca

Kullervo - EP Salonen LA Phil Sony (the only recording I have!)

Tapiola - Karajan 1984 DG
Oceanides - Vanska Lahti - BIS
Lemminkainen Legends - Petri Sakari Iceland Symphony Orchestra Naxos
Finlandia - Philharmonia Decca
Pohjola's Daughter - Vanska Lahti - BIS

[tigajen]

1.Vanska Lahti
2.Barbirolli RPO
3.Jarvi Gothenburg (1983)
4 Vanska Lahti
5 Barbirolli (Prom)
6 Sakari Iceland
7.Beecham RPO
Kullervo Davis LSO Live
Tapiola Segerstam Helsinki PO (Just ahead of Beecham)
Lemminkainen Segersatm Hesinki PO
Pelleas Beecham RPO
Pohjola Davis Boston

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There are so many wonderful recordings of these marvellous works - complete cycles by Vanska, Barbirolli, Davis (all three!), Bernstein (NYPO), Collins, Maazel (VPO), Gibson - and Rattle and Ashkenazy.

And, individually

1) Sargent/BBCSO, Kajanus/RPO
2) Barbirolli/RPO, Szell/Concertgebeouw, Kajanus/RPO
3)Kajanus/LSO
4) Beecham/LPO, Karajan/BPO (1960s)
5) Karajan/BPO (1960s) - until the final chords in the last bar!, Kajanus/LSO, Rattle/Philharmonia
6) Beecham/LPO, Karajan BPO (either of them, or the Philharmonia)
7) Karajan/BPO (1960s)
Violin Concerto - Ferras/BPO/Karajan, Accardo/LSO/Davis, Kavakos/Vanska
Tapiola - Karajan (any of 'em)
Pohola - Bernstein/NYPO
Leminkainen - Beecham

So many excellent recordings (Mackerras #2) not mentioned. The only versions that I can't make "contact" with - to my very deep regret - are those by Berglund! So many people whose views I respect and trust are so enthusiastic about his three cycles, but none of them "register" with me ... yes, to my very deep regret.

[Barbirollians]

There are so many wonderful recordings of these marvellous works - complete cycles by Vanska, Barbirolli, Davis (all three!), Bernstein (NYPO), Collins, Maazel (VPO), Gibson - and Rattle and Ashkenazy.

And, individually

1) Sargent/BBCSO, Kajanus/RPO
2) Barbirolli/RPO, Szell/Concertgebeouw, Kajanus/RPO
3)Kajanus/LSO
4) Beecham/LPO, Karajan/BPO (1960s)
5) Karajan/BPO (1960s) - until the final chords in the last bar!, Kajanus/LSO, Rattle/Philharmonia
6) Beecham/LPO, Karajan BPO (either of them, or the Philharmonia)
7) Karajan/BPO (1960s)
Violin Concerto - Ferras/BPO/Karajan, Accardo/LSO/Davis, Kavakos/Vanska
Tapiola - Karajan (any of 'em)
Pohola - Bernstein/NYPO
Leminkainen - Beecham

So many excellent recordings (Mackerras #2) not mentioned. The only versions that I can't make "contact" with - to my very deep regret - are those by Berglund! So many people whose views I respect and trust are so enthusiastic about his three cycles, but none of them "register" with me ... yes, to my very deep regret.

Oh dear fhgl you clearly pressed reply before you had finished as you did not choose any Ida Haendel version of the Violin Concerto !
.
My favourite Ida H version is the live one with Rattle from 1993 followed closely by the Berglund and the Ancerl . I should like to track down the legendary Camilla Wicks version .

[pastoralguy]

I really feel the need to wave the flag for the SNO under Sir Alex Gibson who were doing great work to promote these marvellous works when Sibelius's star dipped.

[Barbirollians]

I really feel the need to wave the flag for the SNO under Sir Alex Gibson who were doing great work to promote these marvellous works when Sibelius's star dipped.

I do not have any of his recordings of the symphonies but his Lemminkainen record is excellent .

[jayne lee wilson]

Another reminder, doubtless ignored once again, for the oft-overlooked Sanderling/Berlin SO cycle. He gives you the symphonic essence of the music, orchestrally and with effortless structural clarity. It's like clear, cold spring water, glittering against rock. But the Berlin SO strings are still strong and full in the ChristusKirche acoustic. He really brings home that final chord in NO.3, so often a disappointment in performance. If that isn't right it can feel as if the whole reading fails... too much to say too little time, gotta go - but - Rattle/CBSO great in 3-7, less so in 1 and 2, seek out the Robert Layton review of 1&2 in G. for... 3/87. If you find the original Angel CD of 3&7 grab it, an audiophile treat as well as a musical one.

Wild Card... Rozhdestvensky.

[Beef Oven!]

I really feel the need to wave the flag for the SNO under Sir Alex Gibson who were doing great work to promote these marvellous works when Sibelius's star dipped.

I have one or two of his symphony CDs somewhere, but I can't find them! Chandos.

His Lemminkainen Legends, Luonnotar & Bard Chandos CD is easily to hand and is wonderful (as you'd expect), but at the moment, I find Petri Sakari Iceland Symphony CD on Naxos is my 'go to' for the legends.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I really feel the need to wave the flag for the SNO under Sir Alex Gibson who were doing great work to promote these marvellous works when Sibelius's star dipped.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wild Card... Rozhdestvensky.

- although, for wildness, per se, Segerstam is in a league of his own!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I find Petri Sakari Iceland Symphony CD on Naxos is my 'go to' for the legends.

Oh, YES! I'd forgotten that superb disc!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

My favourite Ida H version is the live one with Rattle from 1993

I seem to have gone for conductors rather than soloists in my choice - but this is indeed quite (in the sense of "totally") marvellous.

My thumb's beginning to ache - how lucky Sibelius has been in recording history.

[pastoralguy]

- although, for wildness, per se, Segerstam is in a league of his own!

We in Scotland were lucky enough to hear him conduct 5,6 & 7 in one concert with the BBCSSO approx 8 years ago. A truly devastating experience...

[visualnickmos]

Another reminder, doubtless ignored once again, for the oft-overlooked Sanderling/Berlin SO cycle. He gives you the symphonic essence of the music, orchestrally and with effortless structural clarity. It's like clear, cold spring water, glittering against rock. But the Berlin SO strings are still strong and full in the ChristusKirche acoustic. He really brings home that final chord in NO.3, so often a disappointment in performance. If that isn't right it can feel as if the whole reading fails... too much to say too little time, gotta go - but - Rattle/CBSO great in 3-7, less so in 1 and 2, seek out the Robert Layton review of 1&2 in G. for... 3/87. If you find the original Angel CD of 3&7 grab it, an audiophile treat as well as a musical one.

Wild Card... Rozhdestvensky.

Yes, yes and yes....

[pastoralguy]

I wonder what Boulez would have made of the Sibelius symphonies!