Search - Sibelius, Salonen, Lap :: Lemminkainen Legends / En Saga

Salonen's Way with Sibelius

Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Esa-Pekka Salonen first stepped onto the public stage as a bright young conductor from Finland, almost everyone agreed that his specialty would always be the interpretation of his fellow countryman, Jean Sibelius. Now, many years later, Salonen is at the peak of the master conductors of today, having proved himself a master of Stravinsky, Bartok, Schoenberg, Mahler, Bruckner, Debussy, Wagner, Lutoslawski, Haydn, Adams and all new music, et cetera. And so it is a welcome fact that he still also remains one of the great Sibelius conductors of our time.



This recording made in 1992 is one of his finest from that period, conducting his own Los Angeles Philharmonic with passion, clarity, and an obvious intense communication with his players. One this spaciously recorded CD we are given the Lemminkäinen Legends, Op.22 and the En Saga, Opus 9. For sheer power of orchestral sound it is difficult to imagine a more potent En Saga. But for the shimmering ecstasy of Sibelius' writing two of the excerpts from the Lemminkäinen Legends are unsurpassed: The Swan Of Tuonela and Lemminkäinen's Return. Finer interpretive stance and gorgeous orchestral playing would be difficult to find in the recording catalogue. It simply works wonders. Highly Recommended on every level. Grady Harp, March 06

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Salonen is a great interpreter of Sibelius

SJR | Wichita, Kansas | 06/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a couple of Sibelius CD's with Salonen at the helm, and his interpretations of Sibelius' works are masterful. Lemminkainen's Return is particularly powerful. But it is in En Saga that Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic really shine. For my money, it is the definitive En Saga."

An Outstanding En Saga.

Presto Rubel | Central Massachusetts | 09/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first encountered En Saga in the form of the soundtrack to the Japanese film The Seven Samurai. My father, a Chinese history professor, showed that film to his classes every year, and I was fascinated by it, and by the music used in the film.



It was twenty years later that I discovered that Sibelius' En Saga had been the basis of the music for the film. Since then, I have listened to and relished many versions.



Recently, our public radio station played En Saga, which isn't unusual. But my head instantly turned when I heard the build-up of the bass drums to the climaxes of certain phrases. The cymbals were also used with absolute perfection at those climaxes. I could picture the musician turning the cymbals toward the audience/microphones after they'd been played, to allow the full resonance to reverberate. I've played the cymbals myself. This musician was a master. The entire orchestra was masterful. The playing was clear, precise, and full of well-coordinated orchestra-wide nuances that were ideal to the piece.



I'm a classical pianist with experience in other instruments and in music teaching and directing. But more importantly, I know En Saga very well, through an appreciation that has lasted all my life. This is by far and away the best recording of it that I've ever heard. It leaves me in awe, and with total, profound appreciation. Get a copy now, while it's still in print. Listen to En Saga. Let it invigorate you, and inspire you."