Favourite Sibelius cycle

[Beef Oven!]

I am finding the Petri Sakari, Iceland Symphony Orchestra on Naxos a most enjoyable cycle.

Today I've played 6 & & 7 without a break as per Simon Rattle with the Paavo Berglund reference and I have to say that these are some of the best performances I've heard, especially 7.

Here Sakari seems to give a wonderful flow to the music, with great balance between the instrumental groups, while delivering excitement to the climaxes. Beautifully recorded too.

The orchestra is clearly not a rich and sonorous affair like leading European Orchestras, but I think they easily make up for that with an optimum balance between less imposing strings, woodwind and brass. For me at least, the key to Sibelius' works especially the later ones, lies in this balance. I think the smaller forces are a benefit.

Symphonies 4 & 5 are also very good indeed. And as I have previously said, Sakari's Lemminkainen Legends is my go to recording.

I will also dig up the CD of the tone poems, which IIRC is a great set of performances.

[Nick Armstrong]

Petri Sakari, Iceland Symphony Orchestra on Naxos.... Today I've played 6 & 7 without a break as per Simon Rattle with the Parvo Berglund reference and I have to say that these are some of the best performances I've heard, especially 7.

I have that CD and it is excellent. I think I bought it having heard one or the other performance on R3 and loved it.

Just catching up with the broadcast concert from the Barbican, and just heard that comment by Rattle. Stupidly the Berglund-Bournemouth connection had never dawned on me in relation to Rattle.

Rubbernecker formerly of this parish reminded me at the weekend that we went to see Berglund conduct 6 & 7 (I think with the LPO) and he indeed performed the two without a break.

[Nick Armstrong]

Fine, but have you got, or at least ordered, the Berlin SO/Sanderling yet?

No! Stop it, all of you!

[gurnemanz]

I did a thread on the 6th recently.
I have the Vanska cycle on my phone as a cheap download and I have the Minnesota recordings as well. I also have parts of every Davis cycle. My favorite cycle is Barbirolli/Halle, but as with every great Symphonist, I don't think that one Conductor can do equal justice to each Symphony and that individual
Recordings should be purchased.

That Vanska download seems like amazing value. I got the discs not too long ago on this BIS Essentials Box

[Beef Oven!]

I have that CD and it is excellent. I think I bought it having heard one or the other performance on R3 and loved it.

Just catching up with the broadcast concert from the Barbican, and just heard that comment by Rattle. Stupidly the Berglund-Bournemouth connection had never dawned on me in relation to Rattle.

Rubbernecker formerly of this parish reminded me at the weekend that we went to see Berglund conduct 6 & 7 (I think with the LPO) and he indeed performed the two without a break.

I also started buying the Sakari/Iceland/Naxos CDs after airings on R3 AND the Berglund/Bournemouth/Rattle connection eluded me

[Alison]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the excellent Storgards cycle on Chandos, well received in this parish upon release. The BBC Philharmonic, never too plush, suits this music rather well IMHO.

[Beef Oven!]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the excellent Storgards cycle on Chandos, well received in this parish upon release. The BBC Philharmonic, never too plush, suits this music rather well IMHO.

I haven't forgotten it. I'd never heard of it, before tonight

[Nick Armstrong]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the excellent Storgards cycle on Chandos, well received in this parish upon release. The BBC Philharmonic, never too plush, suits this music rather well IMHO.

Remembered in my #65 above, just after 2 this afternoon!

[Beef Oven!]

Remembered in my #65 above, just after 2 this afternoon!

Btw, who's that in your avatar?

[Nick Armstrong]

Btw, who's that in your avatar?

I'll leave you to unravel that puzzle, M. Le Boeuf!

[Beef Oven!]

I'll leave you to unravel that puzzle, M. Le Boeuf!

You rotten tease!

Btw, ahinton got told off for calling me M. Le Boeuf, but that was before this new, Beef Oven-lite

[Nick Armstrong]

You rotten tease!

Btw, ahinton got told off for calling me M. Le Boeuf, but that was before this new, Beef Oven-lite

Well I had a reason viz. the French theme of my avatar, n'est-ce pas.

[Beef Oven!]

Well I had a reason viz. the French theme of my avatar, n'est-ce pas.

Is that a cloo, Maurice?

[Alison]

Remembered in my #65 above, just after 2 this afternoon!

Soz Cali. Have to confess I like the feel and dimensions of the Chandos box too!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Everyone seems to have forgotten the excellent Storgards cycle on Chandos, well received in this parish upon release. The BBC Philharmonic, never too plush, suits this music rather well IMHO.

Not "forgotten" here - just haven't got round to buying it yet! (I mean it's so expensive - all of £6.50 a disc! )

I remember hearing the excerpts on Seedy Review and being very impressed (superbly-judged tempi, and excellent Timpani - as well as the sketches of the Eighth Symphony).