"Chances are that if you are reading this review, you may be searching for a good Sibelius symphony cycle to purchase. This set, split between the Finnish conductor, Okko Kamu, and the legendary Herbert von Karajan, is a mixed blessing.Overall, the performances are perfectly acceptable. Kamu gives some fairly convincing readings of the First and Second Symphonies, but the tempi are a bit inconsistent, the brass loud and blatty, and there are some glaring faults in the First Symphony. He does an average job on these great masterpieces.The prizes in the set are the performances by von Karajan. He does a much finer job bringing out details, controlling dynamic and musical direction, and giving more polished, prepared readings with his superior orchestra. The Fourth Symphony is particularly fine, full of intense, concentrated emotion and commitment from the players.Overall, if you want a budget set of the symphonies and cannot afford the sets by Sir Colin Davis or Paavo Berglund (both outstanding and worth the money), then you can purchase this cycle and be happy with decent performances of the Jean Sibelius symphonies. Otherwise, I recommend that you search elsewhere (Sir Colin Davis, Paavo Berglund, Lorin Maazel--I haven't heard, but know from reputation)."
Try the rest, but buy the best
FrozenMango | California | 12/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You will hear about Berglund, Sir Colin Davis, Leonard Bernstein, Jarvi and others and their renditions of Sibelius' Symphonies but having listened to almost all renditions I come away with this set as my favourite.
Sibelius' music is "wide open" - big - expansive, and Herbert von Karajan and Okko Kamu do an excellent job of bringing this out. Sir Colin Davis' interpretation sorely lacks the sonority, the vibrancy and clarity that gives the Symphonies shape and logic. If you listen, just as an example, to the second movement of the 3rd Symphony, you will be astounded by how amateurish the Davis version is. It lacks direction, robustness and majesty. Kamu makes it shine.
This set is highly recommended."
Very Fine!
David Lee | Canada | 10/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As to characterization in Sibelius no one has the idiom mastered so well as Karajan...even Sibelius agreed that Herbert was the man for his music...he relishes in the incredible simplicity and austere melodic beauty of this music. No sentimentality here...purchase with out guilt!!!"
Karajan+Sibelius rules!
Six Stringer | Midwest, USA | 12/16/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After a very polite reading of 1 and 2 by underrated Okko Kamu, we get through 3 and then.....
Pure bliss!
HvK is THE Sibelius conductor. There is no finer 4 on record that my ears have heard. This 5 is also very fine, but the true gold on this album is 6 and 7.
Sibelius 7th is my favorite piece of orchestral music. Currently, I hold HvK's reading here as the best (I haven't heard the EMI Beecham yet!) He brings goose bumps and a few tears at the end. This recording cannot be recommended enough. HvK's is bit more quickly paced than a fine Lenny with Vienna performance. HvK's voicing of the Berliners at the closing is simply glorious. Slight nod to Hvk over Lenny. With 5 the nod goes to Lenny and NYPO, as the brass at the end is out of this world!
UPDATE: (5/09) After hearing Beecham's 7th, it is clear that he had a very different approach than HvK or Lenny. Beecham is much quicker! I simply prefer the patient refinement that HVK and Lenny were able to achieve with their recordings. The Beecham is well played, but at a tempo that from the first measure feels like the start of the Kentucky Derby. It works well in the middle parts of the symphony, but I simply do not prefer this treatment in the beginning and ending of this great work.