BaL 5.01.13 - Sibelius: Symphony no. 2 in D

[Nick Armstrong]

By the way, is anyone here (IGI for instance) familiar with Berglund's COE recordings of the symphonies? I have seen rather mixed, and generally somewhat negative, reviews of that set, but at £7.49 for the mp3 download via amazon.co.uk the set does seem worth investigating as a supplement to the Bournemouth and Helsinki surveys.

Just seen this... I'd say: don't! More tomorrow!

[Nick Armstrong]

By the way, is anyone here (IGI for instance) familiar with Berglund's COE recordings of the symphonies? I have seen rather mixed, and generally somewhat negative, reviews of that set, but at £7.49 for the mp3 download via amazon.co.uk the set does seem worth investigating as a supplement to the Bournemouth and Helsinki surveys.

Just seen this... I'd say: don't! More tomorrow!

For some reason I bought the COE/Berglund set when it came out - probably because the others were unavailable and it was all shiny and new

After the Sib 2 discussions this weekend, I pulled it down and listened to the No 2. It's pretty silly, to these ears. Some bizarre effects - swellings, accents - to make up for the lack of weight I suppose. I regret having it, the idea of Sibelius by a chamber orchestra is rather daft, no? Maybe ok for No 6 for example...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Someone who shared my love of Sibelius was extremely enthusiastic about these recordings when they were first issued and lent me his copy in the hope that I would grow to share his enthusiasm. They never appealed to me, either; lacking the fire that I think this Music ought to create, and sacrificing the weight of the larger Symphony orchestras whilst failing to compensate with the clarity of texture that's the usual advantage of the Chamber Orchestra. Berglund's undoubted mastery of these scores failed to engage my interest in these particular performances.

[Nick Armstrong]

Someone who shared my love of Sibelius was extremely enthusiastic about these recordings when they were first issued and lent me his copy in the hope that I would grow to share his enthusiasm. They never appealed to me, either; lacking the fire that I think this Music ought to create, and sacrificing the weight of the larger Symphony orchestras whilst failing to compensate with the clarity of texture that's the usual advantage of the Chamber Orchestra. Berglund's undoubted mastery of these scores failed to engage my interest in these particular performances.

Precisely

[amateur51]

Someone who shared my love of Sibelius was extremely enthusiastic about these recordings when they were first issued and lent me his copy in the hope that I would grow to share his enthusiasm. They never appealed to me, either; lacking the fire that I think this Music ought to create, and sacrificing the weight of the larger Symphony orchestras whilst failing to compensate with the clarity of texture that's the usual advantage of the Chamber Orchestra. Berglund's undoubted mastery of these scores failed to engage my interest in these particular performances.

Probably down to all the 'patching' on the seasiders' set, as Hornspieler alerted us to generally

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Probably down to all the 'patching' on the seasiders' set, as Hornspieler alerted us to generally

Ah, may nun, mon ami; I was talking about Berglund's later set with the Chamber Orch of Europe rather than the Bournemouth cycle (which sounds like something from meteorology!)

[amateur51]

Ah, may nun, mon ami; I was talking about Berglund's later set with the Chamber Orch of Europe rather than the Bournemouth cycle (which sounds like something from meteorology!)

Nay nay ferney, I understood that the COE set was inferior to the seasiders' set and was offering the 'patching' by EMI possibility by way of explanation, tha sees aka it's a fix!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah!

[Alison]

I listened to the podcast of this BAl again this afternoon and I am still not all that impressed . The RPO/Barbirolli -was jettisoned because " just occasionally his pacing slips " .

That is simply sloppy . How does it slip ? Is he too slow or too fast , inappropriate accelerations or decelerations?

How does this affect the performance as a whole ? Why does it justify it being thrown out so early and never mentioned again ?

I have played my new Barbirolli thrice and find it quite enthralling.

Everything seems right: the orchestral balance, the characterisation, the structure and perhaps especially the pacing !

A first rate affair which Davis can't really get near IMHO.

[Nick Armstrong]

I have played my new Barbirolli thrice and find it quite enthralling.

Is that the Testament CD coupled with No. 5?

[Barbirollians]

Is that the Testament CD coupled with No. 5?

I am really glad you like it Alison . I think it is just masterful.

[Alison]

Is that the Testament CD coupled with No. 5?

The very one. Without being world beaters the RPO of that vintage sound rather fine.

[Nick Armstrong]

The very one. Without being world beaters the RPO of that vintage sound rather fine.

And your comments apply equally to the performance of the Fifth I imagine?

If so, I think I need to get this!

[Alison]

Only listened to first movement of 5. Rather disappointed actually, neither the playing nor the recording seem as good.

RPO in the studio for 2; Halle at the Proms for 5.

[Barbirollians]

The Fifth is a live Proms recording but it is well worth getting to know and warms up in the later movements .

The Second is one of the all time great recordings of that symphony .