Search - Jean Sibelius, Herbert von Karajan, Philharmonia Orchestra :: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 (The Karajan Collection)

Karajan's best Sibelius Second, and a commanding Fifth

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wondered why EMI chose to include this 1960 recording of the Sibelius Second in their Karajan Collection rather htan his later rendition with the Berlin Phil. Now I know. This is a passionate, powerful reading without the grandiose touches of the remake. Karajan relinquished his relationship with the Philharmonia around this time, but by the end he had the orchestra sounding great--England perhaps has produced no finer since then. The engineering and remastering are exemplary; this oculd be contemporary sound.



As for the interpretation, it's uncanny how Karajan came within a second or two of his timings in both recordings (in fact, for the first movement, he, Okku Kamu, and Barbirolli are all within a second of 10 min.) The reading is literal, in the sense that Karajan doesn't use expressive rubato the way Barbirolli did. His view of Sibelius is still monumental and muscular.



The same goes for the Fifth Sym., also from 1960--it's as passionate as the Second, but Karajan made two famous recordings with the Berlin Phil. of this work (on EMI and DG). All three sound essentially the same--Karajan tended to stay close to an interpretation once he'd fixed it. If you don't own either of the later ones from Berlin, this London recording is as good as it gets."

A Farewell to a Grand Partnership

Benjamin Bates | San Francisco, Ca | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These 1960 recordings sum up the great music-making Karajan enjoyed with the Philharmonia and the 5th in particular has a freshness which lacks in his later recording with the Berlin Philharmonic. For Karajan collectors, this is a must-have!!!! This is one of the great Philharmonia recordings that solidified Karajan as a top-knotch recording artist."

A real treasure in sibelian landscapes.

Carlos Quintero | Caracas, Venezuela | 10/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
In agreement with other reviewer, this is the best 2nd by Karajan.

Regarding the 5th, this is for sure a hors concors in recordings of

this work. Karajan's art and mastery in this work is undiscussable

and this heavenly 5th from Philharmonia is the one to get to compare

every other one to consider. A real Sibelius treasure."