A rewarding, if not entirely idiomatic version
MartinP | Nijmegen, The Netherlands | 06/13/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Kullervo is a mighty work indeed, with a strong hieratic flavour, a sense of something dark and ancient that might well appeal to Lord of the Rings fans. It is full of fascinating sounds, compelling ostinatos and beautiful harmonies. No wonder then that it has received its share of excellent recordings, topped by Osmo Vänskä's on BIS. Though Segerstam does not displace that phenomenal achievement as the top choice, his second recording of the work has much going for it. It has a kind of tenderness not usually associated with this, Sibelius's most ritualistic music, so that "Kullervo's Youth", the saddest lullaby ever written, turns out very touching indeed. Segerstam also has a fine ear for woodwind detail and rhythmic accents, resulting in lively, at times scintillating textures. As a result, his "Kullervo goes to war" is up there among the very best. He also has excellent singers at hand. The YL Chorus have sung this work so often they can probably do so while they sleep, but they don't sound the least bit jaded. The cumulative intensity they achieve in Kullervo's death scene comes very close to that in Vänskä's version and makes the spine tingle. Soile Isokoski is simply one of the finest sopranos now gracing the stage, and her reading of the Sister's part is pure and deeply felt, quite possible the best on record. Tommi Hakala yields little to that high standard, though maybe there's just a tad too much sheer beauty in his singing to make the tragedy completely believable.
While the overall high quality of this production cannot be doubted, I do have a few reservations. The Kullervo score is comparatively devoid of dynamic, tempo and expressive markings. Most conductors stay fairly close to the indications given, with long stretches continuing at the same volume and pace. Actually, this is one of the things that contributes to the work's haunting, monumental character. Segerstam is much more interventionist - a bit too much, to my taste. By adding accents and dynamic swells where none are noted (as well as adding three unwritten chords on the full orchestra in Kullervo's lament at the end of the third movement) the result sounds a bit too Mahlerian at times. A case in point is the very final chord. It is marked ff for all parts, with a crescendo-decrescendo hairpin for the timpani. Most conductors sustain the ff chord and have the timpani make an extra swell. Segerstam, however, takes it that the timpani marking holds for the entire orchestra, so he drops the ff, takes the whole ensemble back to pp, swelling to ff, and then fading - thus making this the only Kullervo in the catalogue to end softly. Even though the effect is touching in its way, it is also obviously unidiomatic. Similarly, the big, unmarked slowdown on the final ff return of the theme in the second movement sounds like unnecessary point-making, and actually reduces the sense of despair.
I do not own a SACD player so have only heard the disc in stereo sound. I found I had to put the volume up well beyond its usual level to get the right impact. Even then the string sound of the Helsinki players remains rather undernourished; at lower volume settings it can sound downright disembodied. In tutti passages woodwind detail tends to get lost. However, the beautifully differentiated, weighty brass goes some way in making up for that.
In all, not the Kullervo to get if the piece is new to you, or if you only want one recording of it. But if you've fallen prey to a Kullervo-addiction, and believe me, it happens easily, then this recording offers an interesting, individual vision of the work that brings many rewards and is well worth getting to know.
"
Composer didn't think much of piece, public & critics have l
Todd Nolan | Seattle, WA USA | 06/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I absolutely love this piece. Like the music of Martinu and Bloch, I don't think one can mistake Sibelius' sound with any other composer. Its well-known that the composer didn't think very much of this early work, but judging by the number of recordings, the general public almost thinks of Kullervo as the Sibelius 8th. Briefly checking this amazon site for other recordings, I expected two or three versions, including my introduction by Paavo Berglund (at the tail end of the LP days, it was a 2-record set with the choral gem OMA MAA). But there are ten recordings with this energetic performance by the Helsinki Philharmonic led by Leif Segerstam. Soloists Isokoski & Hakala are in fine form, and the Helsinki orchestra is excellent. A must-have for Sibelius fans, and highly recommended to the general classical music listener that may know some of the symphonies, tone poems and the violin concerto, but is curious to hear more.
"
An uneven work offered in the best light possible
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 05/16/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Leif Segerstam, himself a composer, has stamped an individual personality on all his Sibelius interpretations (a better word, I think, than "interventionist," which would turn a conductor's talent into a flaw). Sometimes he takes an unconvincing tack, but sibelius's early epic, "Kullervo," is a special case. the music is sweeping in intention but often slack in execution. The composer wanted it suppressed, a judgment by no means entirely misguided. the work needs help, and I applaud Segerstam for bringing an extra measure of dynamics and expressivity to the score. Segerstam's advantage is that his "Kullervo" really feels alive. That's a subjective judgement, of course. Strictly speaking, Colin Davis's account on LSO Live is better played, and his tempos are consistently faster.
I can only echo the earlier reviewers who praise the solo and choral work, although the latter is a bit thin and lacking in mystery compared to the best. Recently Osmo Vanska brought "Kullervo" to Carnegie Hall with his Minnesota Orchestra, earning blanket raves from the critics; this seconds the reputation of his recording on BIS, which became a first-choice almost from the moment it appeared. Comparisons prove a bit shocking, therefore, because Segerstam's reading is far better played by the Helsinki Phil., his tempos are livelier, his accents more dramatic. Above all, it feels as if he is telling the more riveting heroic story. Only in the fifth movement does Vanska, aided by a superior chorus, manages to evoke more mystery. I wonder if anyone bothers to actually do side-by-side comparisons anymore. No doubt they would stick with their original opinions -- it's not necessary to be naive. But for anyone who wants to hear "kullervo" offered in the best light possible, Segerstam would be my first choice for now, along with Paavo Jarvi's better recorded reading on Virgin."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1