Search - Jean Sibelius, Paavo Berglund, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra :: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1-4

Superb Sibelius

K. Bowersock | Lubbock, TX | 02/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to the Davis recordings of the Sibelius symphonies for years, I thought it time to seek out another set of these symphonic masterpieces. I knew that these interpretations with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Paavo Berglund were highly recommended by the Penguin guide, and thus decided to try them out. Well, I have been duly rewarded in my purchase, and actually, I believe the present set to surpass the famed Davis recordings in many (if not most) ways.



Berglund and the HPO take ideal tempi throughout; really, just perfect. There are many points in the Davis recordings (particularly in the first and third symphonies) were I found myself wishing for a faster or slower tempo; this is not the case here. Granted, Berglund does not go out on any limbs, and stays pretty close to the norm (whatever that is); but I believe this to be the set's greatest quality. There are no interpretational extremes or indulgences, just the genius of Sibelius at full speed ahead. Particularly noteworthy are the interpretations of the second and third symphonies, with the former being, I believe, the best I have ever encountered (competing with and surpassing Karajan, Davis, Bernstein, Ashkenazy, and Jarvi). Although I do prefer Davis and Ashkenazy in the fourth, the HPO are no slouches in the A minor, and this is only a minor quibble in a stunning set of orchestral masterpieces.



So, if you don't have it yet, get it. The price is unbeatable, and the interpretations warrant double what it costs. I look forward to getting symphonies 5 though 7 (also of course on EMI) in the mail next week, and from what I have heard in this first installment, I think I would feel pretty safe in a preemptive endorsement of one of the great complete Sibelius symphony cycles.

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