BaL 5.01.13 - Sibelius: Symphony no. 2 in D

[Barbirollians]

A second hand copy of the Sibelius 2 from Szell and the Cgebouw came my way today - it is extraordinarily exciting even if a bit more technicolor than Barbirolli . Truly on first hearing , however, one of the great Sibelius 2 recordings . A rather enjoyable and exciting Beethoven Fifth with it too .

Just listened to it again - it is absolutely fantastic even if there is a slightly hammy ritardando before the arrival of the big tune near the end .

Into my top three with Barbirolli and Kletzki . I understand the Tokyo Sibelius 2 may be even better but as a second mortgage is required for that one I will wait to see if it is ever re-released

[Nick Armstrong]

A second hand copy of the Sibelius 2 from Szell and the Cgebouw came my way today

Wish things like that happened to me... !

[Barbirollians]

Wish things like that happened to me... !

Try the river people old chap - tax dodging bounders though they are .

[Barbirollians]

I have given the winner a good few spins recently and good as it is i cannot for the life of me see it as a library choice in the sense of it being a record that will make you fall in love with the work - which I think is perhaps the most important thing about a library choice . I compared it with his RCA record too and I still prefer that .

The great triumvirate of barbirolli,Kletzki and Szell reign supreme for me .

[BBMmk2]

Wish things like that happened to me... !

Have you ever tried amazon marketplace Cali?

[Barbirollians]

Yes that is where I got my copy from - not sure there are many reasonably priced secondhand copies left though . It is available as a download.

[Barbirollians]

Just been listening to the LSO/Monteux recording on Eloquence. Another very fine , romantic account not quite at white heat but such lovely shaping of the music and for a late 1950s recording sounding extremely well.

[richardfinegold]

Just been listening to the LSO/Monteux recording on Eloquence. Another very fine , romantic account not quite at white heat but such lovely shaping of the music and for a late 1950s recording sounding extremely well.

That was the recording that I learned the piece from, and then I didn't hear it for many years. A few years ago I bought a turntable and found a decent sounding lp and that is one ofthe lps that I spin these days.
I had listened to that recording and Colin Davis Boston recording of the First so much and didn't really explore the rest of the Sibelius canon for years afterwards. Now I feel some ennui when I listen to the first two symphonies, similar to when I listen to Tchaikovsky 4-6. Most of my Sibelius listening these days is 4 and 6.

[Barbirollians]

That was the recording that I learned the piece from, and then I didn't hear it for many years. A few years ago I bought a turntable and found a decent sounding lp and that is one ofthe lps that I spin these days.
I had listened to that recording and Colin Davis Boston recording of the First so much and didn't really explore the rest of the Sibelius canon for years afterwards. Now I feel some ennui when I listen to the first two symphonies, similar to when I listen to Tchaikovsky 4-6. Most of my Sibelius listening these days is 4 and 6.

Ah yes - I played the LPO/E.Kleiber Pastoral last night. The performance from which I got to know the work from borrowing my late grandparents Ace of Clubs LP in the early 1980s . Took me straight back .

[Alison]

Anyone heard Boston/Nelsons?

[BBMmk2]

I have the new Chandos Sibelius cycle with John Storgards(?) Not bad at all. Just the symphonies and no fill ups.

[richardfinegold]

I have the new Chandos Sibelius cycle with John Storgards(?) Not bad at all. Just the symphonies and no fill ups.

That cycle got a lukewarm review in Fanfare from critic Richard Kaplan, who once did a an exhaustive review of every Sibelius recording from the dawn of 78s on.

[BBMmk2]

That cycle got a lukewarm review in Fanfare from critic Richard Kaplan, who once did a an exhaustive review of every Sibelius recording from the dawn of 78s on.

Ah well, maybe, but each to their own eh? I also as aforementioned above, the Barbirolli and Ashkenazy.

[Madame Suggia]

A wonderful performance here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L4ylct1JJc