BaL 18.05.19 - Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op.22

[smittims]

Yes, I liked the Ormandy, but I don't think it had good reviews. He recorded quite a bit of Sibelius over the years, sometimes two or three times. I beleive in America he's regarded as a bit like Malcolm Sargent, with many passionate devotees, while others seem to regard him as little more than a charlatan. I wouldn't regard him as one of the most eminent masters (I don't think he had Stokowski's flair), but I've honestly never been disappointed by his perfromances .

[cloughie]

I seem to have missed most of this but a recently acquired secondhand copy of the 1970s Ormandy on EMI strikes me as much the best I have heard - leaving even Gibson well behind .

I also rate the Ormandy recording amongst the best along with the Kamu recording on DG, though I prefer Kamu’s sequencing placing the Swan 3rd! Of course that can be adjusted manually!

Also the Ormandy Sony Sibelius box, now methinks deleted and not the bargain it was when it first appeared, covers most of his stereo recordings from CBS and RCA.

[mikealdren]

I haven't heard the complete Ormandy but I've always loved the Swan of Tuonela that coupled with Oistrakh's marvellous LP of the violin concerto.

[Barbirollians]

Yes, I liked the Ormandy, but I don't think it had good reviews. He recorded quite a bit of Sibelius over the years, sometimes two or three times. I beleive in America he's regarded as a bit like Malcolm Sargent, with many passionate devotees, while others seem to regard him as little more than a charlatan. I wouldn't regard him as one of the most eminent masters (I don't think he had Stokowski's flair), but I've honestly never been disappointed by his perfromances .

It received a very good review from Robert Layton in Gramophone in 1979.

[smittims]

Ah yes, RL was always a percipient critic.

[cloughie]

Yes, I liked the Ormandy, but I don't think it had good reviews. He recorded quite a bit of Sibelius over the years, sometimes two or three times. I beleive in America he's regarded as a bit like Malcolm Sargent, with many passionate devotees, while others seem to regard him as little more than a charlatan. I wouldn't regard him as one of the most eminent masters (I don't think he had Stokowski's flair), but I've honestly never been disappointed by his perfromances .

Sargent also made some good Sibelius recordings!

[smittims]

Yes, the BBC So recordings are easily explained, but I often wonder how those Vienna Phil sessions came about. Maybe he heard Victor Olof was recording in the Musikvereinsaal (mainly with Silvestri)and wanted a piece of the action. And I was pleased to find Sargent didn't neglect the Third symphony, doing it at the 1965 Proms, a performance that has survived on YouTube.

[Bryn]

Sadly, I will miss the broadcast of "Sibelius's monumental Fifth Symphony", , tonight (attending the "all that dust: launch event" at Iklectik) but will try and get to hear it via BBC Sounds, later.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mmp3

[pastoralguy]

Yes, the BBC So recordings are easily explained, but I often wonder how those Vienna Phil sessions came about. Maybe he heard Victor Olof was recording in the Musikvereinsaal (mainly with Silvestri)and wanted a piece of the action. And I was pleased to find Sargent didn't neglect the Third symphony, doing it at the 1965 Proms, a performance that has survived on YouTube.

My introduction to classical music since my parents had that (mono) Lp. The cover photo made a huge impression on me and I’ve often thought I’d love to stand on that spot. The music also had a huge impact on me. I soon purchased the EMI STUDIO cd when it was first released.

[smittims]

Sargent and the VPO had done (oddly perhaps) four Rossini overtures the previous year. Like you, I've always found those Sibelius recordings memorable.

[Barbirollians]

The Kamu I have finally caught up with on a cheap secondhand copy of the DG Double. Deserves all the praise above.

[smittims]

Glad to hear you were pleased with it. I kept my copy of the Lp when I gave away thousands of others in 1984.