BaL 13.05.23 - Sibelius: Symphony no 6

[Bryn]

My guess is that the LSO/Gibson Sib 5 , coupled with the Karelia suite, was recorded by Decca for RCA, who first issued it on their Victrola label, around the same time that the same artists made a popular classcis anthology including a famous recording of Arnold's Tam o'Shanter. These recordings were reissued by Decca on their SPA ('World of...') label, as they did some of the LSO and VPO/Monteux recordings they had also made for RCA.

Thanks. I had the LP with Tam o' Shanter as a Spanish RCA issue I got as a "flood-damaged" disc (10/-) back in the 1960s. It played perfectly well, after a bit of a clean-up.

[smittims]

Good to hear that. On checking I find the orchestra on that 'witches' ride' LP was the New S.O. whom I believe to be the RPO in disguise. Another popular LP they made for Decca/RCA was 'Claire de Lune' with Raymond d'Agoult. This also had a good run on the'World of...' Label inthe '70s.

[Barbirollians]

Thanks. I had the LP with Tam o' Shanter as a Spanish RCA issue I got as a "flood-damaged" disc (10/-) back in the 1960s. It played perfectly well, after a bit of a clean-up.

The Witches Brew LP turned up on Eloquence and jolly good fun it is too.

[Bryn]

The Witches Brew LP turned up on Eloquence and jolly good fun it is too.

Thanks. I see it is available on QOBUZ. I will import it.

[Mal]

I have soft spots for Ashkenazy , the late EMI Karajan, Barbirolli and the early Beecham.

A few years since I listened to this but, my records show, I also liked EMI Karajan (not DG...) and Davis LSO Live - ended up buying the latter as my library CD. There were several I didn't like in my streaming trials... I found this a difficult work to appreciate...

[Mal]

A few years since I listened to this but, my records show, I also liked EMI Karajan (not DG...) and Davis LSO Live - ended up buying the latter as my library CD. There were several I didn't like in my streaming trials... I found this a difficult work to appreciate...

Just listened to Davis again, it's a few years since I heard it last, and I wasn't that impressed! As people are saying - an elusive work... Anyone else find they can really like a performance, but then, for some known or unknown reason, on a second listen, a few years later, don't like it?

[Retune]

The only Sibelius cycle I have is the Vänskä Lahti; the complete series is a bargain £7.99 download on iTunes. Has anyone compared this with Vänskä's Minnesota cycle, today's pick for the 6th?

[richardfinegold]

The only Sibelius cycle I have is the Vänskä Lahti; the complete series is a bargain £7.99 download on iTunes. Has anyone compared this with Vänskä's Minnesota cycle, today's pick for the 6th?

I have both cycles on disc (Lahti on CD, Minnesota on SACD). As you might suspect the difference between them is not profound. The SACD is recorded at a fairly low level and requires a boost in the volume to compare. The playing is better in Minnesota with more of a sheen from the strings and a little more sheen from the brass but the smaller Lahti Orchestra offers more transparency

[Mal]

The only Sibelius cycle I have is the Vänskä Lahti; the complete series is a bargain £7.99 download on iTunes. Has anyone compared this with Vänskä's Minnesota cycle, today's pick for the 6th?

Detailed comparison here: https://www.startribune.com/how-does...sic/391345851/

[Retune]

Detailed comparison here: https://www.startribune.com/how-does...sic/391345851/

Thanks! (though I can't help wondering if the music critic of the South Finland News would come to the same conclusion as their counterpart at the Minnesota Star Tribune :) ).

[Retune]

I have both cycles on disc (Lahti on CD, Minnesota on SACD). As you might suspect the difference between them is not profound. The SACD is recorded at a fairly low level and requires a boost in the volume to compare. The playing is better in Minnesota with more of a sheen from the strings and a little more sheen from the brass but the smaller Lahti Orchestra offers more transparency

Thanks! I should listen to RR Extra on Sunday. The Minnesota seems to have had a lot of excellent press in recent years, with a great deal of the credit due to Vänskä. I wonder if he's considering another full-time role somewhere now that he's stepped down as Director?

[Master Jacques]

Whatever the differences between Vänskä's Minnesota and Lahti cycles, this was an admirable survey with proper comparisons and a winning, enthusiastic but knowledgeable and articulate approach to the work. I have a feeling that listeners finding this symphony "difficult" could well have felt it was far less so, after hearing this BaL - but that's for them to say, not me to guess!

[Pulcinella]

Whatever the differences between Vänskä's Minnesota and Lahti cycles, this was an admirable survey with proper comparisons and a winning, enthusiastic but knowledgeable and articulate approach to the work. I have a feeling that listeners finding this symphony "difficult" could well have felt it was far less so, after hearing this BaL - but that's for them to say, not me to guess!

True, but the shortlist was very short.

[Master Jacques]

True, but the shortlist was very short.

That's right: but the brevity of the list did at least allow him to offer an unusual number of comparative clips. It's a work which lends itself notably poorly to the short-form, twofer approach. But what's new?!

[underthecountertenor]

That's right: but the brevity of the list did at least allow him to offer an unusual number of comparative clips. It's a work which lends itself notably poorly to the short-form, twofer approach. But what's new?!

Yes, and the better the reviewer the more I resent Andrew McGregor’s involvement, which generally consists of repeating what the reviewer has just said in slightly different words or anticipating what they are about to say in a way that appears almost designed to wrong-foot them. But moaning about it isn’t going to change it, of course.