BaL 18.05.19 - Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22

[LeMartinPecheur]

I’m surprised that there is only one Bergland version. Are there others that are nla? With Bournemouth, perhaps?

Looks like he only did the popular two, once with the LPO and once with the B'mouth SO

https://www.discogs.com/Sibelius-Bournemouth-Symphony-Orchestra-conducted-by-Paavo-Berglund-The-Popular-Sibelius/master/1104577

https://www.discogs.com/Sibelius-Dirigent-Paavo-Berglund-Philharmonia-Orchestra-London-Finlandia-Tapiola-Der-Schwan-Von-Tuon/master/1455990

[Barbirollians]

Barbirolli pretty good in both the famous ones

[jayne lee wilson]

Sibelius

Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22

Lahti SO/Vanska. BIS 1999 rec., via Qobuz Studio.

including...
Lemminkainen and the Maidens of Sari (original 1896 version)
Lemminkainen's Homeward Journey (original 1896 version)

Sounding fine - earthy of texture and ruggedly dynamic with good detail, nothing like as bad as its infamous reputation suggests with terrific brass/percussion impact (have the files been cleaned up for download/stream?), this is fascinating for anyone who knows the familiar versions well.
Numerous rhythmical/instrumental differences in the Maidens piece, a looser, more unstructured feel than the revision (scarcely a model of concision itself...), with some startlingly fast tempi. The Homeward Journey is nearly twice as long in the original version, with an especially splendid and extended conclusion.

The familiar versions come off well too, if a shade matter-of-fact here and there, not quite on the inspired level of Segerstam or Mikko Franck.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/si.../7318590010150
(notes accessible on BIS website).
https://www.eclassical.com/conductor...-kalevala.html

[BBMmk2]

EA, have you missed out the Radion Sinfoniaokestri, under Hannu Lintu? I’m playing it now. Pretty good.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

EA, have you missed out the Radion Sinfoniaokestri, under Hannu Lintu? I’m playing it now. Pretty good.

Half-way down the list, Bbm (with the SACD notification)

[Bryn]

Sibelius

Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22

Lahti SO/Vanska. BIS 1999 rec., via Qobuz Studio.

including...
Lemminkainen and the Maidens of Sari (original 1896 version)
Lemminkainen's Homeward Journey (original 1896 version)

Sounding fine - earthy of texture and ruggedly dynamic with good detail, nothing like as bad as its infamous reputation suggests with terrific brass/percussion impact (have the files been cleaned up for download/stream?), this is fascinating for anyone who knows the familiar versions well.
Numerous rhythmical/instrumental differences in the Maidens piece, a looser, more unstructured feel than the revision (scarcely a model of concision itself...), with some startlingly fast tempi. The Homeward Journey is nearly twice as long in the original version, with an especially splendid and extended conclusion.

The familiar versions come off well too, if a shade matter-of-fact here and there, not quite on the inspired level of Segerstam or Mikko Franck.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/si.../7318590010150
(notes accessible on BIS website).
https://www.eclassical.com/conductor...-kalevala.html

I note that the timings of the movements at QOBUZ differ somewhat from the version in the BIS "The Essantial Sibelius" boxed set. It's 'Maidens' which shows the greatest discrepancy (15' 23", as against 15' 12" in the boxed set). The others only differ by a few seconds each (well within margins of error with regard to the pauses between 'tracks'. Perhaps you are right about some re-mastering. The later SACD recording has very different timings.

By the way, what were the criticisms of this recording (the one with the originals)? Len Mullenger was full of praise for its quality, though his disdain for that of the BIS recordings of Wigglesworth's Shostakovich do make me doubt his aural credentials.

[jayne lee wilson]

See Gramophone, 12/99, for details.... AA reported in his generally favourable review (from a purely musical POV) that Robert Suff confirmed to him that the recording sessions were "dogged by technical gremlins" which they then had to attempt to improve upon in the later production stages...

AA commented that despite all efforts, the results "muffled and curiously hollow, with etiolated strings" fell "disconcertingly far below their usual exalted technical standards"....

All I can add is - those BIS perfectionists appear to have rescued the situation very well, at some point since...so it is now very well worth a good, close listen...

[Mal]

I have Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22 in the 3CD Jarvi/Goteborg collection of tone poems. It's the Rough Guide top choice and they, rightly I think, praise the "warm spacious acoustic". The modern digital sound is superb. Penguin make the collection "key" and (mostly) praise the legends, suggesting, for instance, that Jarvi takes a broader view of Lemminkäinen in Tunella than most - "building an appropriately black and powerful atmosphere". But they are disappointed with the "Homeward Journey"... they say not manic enough compared to (say) Beecham. I'm not disappointed with it, but I'll be listening closely to BAL to hear if I fancy a manic supplement.

[DracoM]

Braced for a twofer......................?

[Wychwood]

Braced for a twofer......................?

Even so, the relatively small field of contenders, in music that I want to know better, should make for an interesting BaL. Looking forward to it -- in whatever format.

[pastoralguy]

Even so, the relatively small field of contenders, in music that I want to know better, should make for an interesting BaL. Looking forward to it -- in whatever format.

[edashtav]

Even so, the relatively small field of contenders, in music that I want to know better, should make for an interesting BaL. Looking forward to it -- in whatever format.

Indeed.

[cloughie]

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That looks like a phalanx of penguins - is it cold in the Kalevala.

[BBMmk2]

That looks like a phalanx of penguins - is it cold in the Kalevala.

Edash tv has made I think, has put up emoticons that are not on the list provider. This forum dissent accept them.

[Goon525]

Andrew Mellor sounds a bit like he’s using an elderly telephone microphone.