Search - Jean Sibelius, Richard [Classical] Wagner, Eugen Jochum :: Sibelius: The Tempest; The Oceanides; Night Ride and Sunrise

Just a Quick Addition

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 12/31/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The review below (another gem from Ryzzard) is excellent in describing the contents of this fine CD. I just wanted to inform potential buyers (and in particular serious collectors) that unlike most of the other releases in this second batch of ten discs in DG's "Musik...Sprache der Welt" series, half of the material on this title has been previously issued on CD. The very same performance of Sibelius' "Night Ride and Sunrise" was previously paired with Jochum's Bruckner 4th in the "DG Originals" series. Also these two Parsifal excerpts appear on the DG "Double 2CD" Wagner collection of "Overtures and Preludes." Nothing like a little duplication to hit a nerve in this reviewer."

Enlivening

David Saemann | 11/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It may come as a surprise that Eugen Jochum recorded Sibelius. Jochum had some serious interests outside the German repertoire, including Elgar's Enigma Variations. His performances here of Sibelius are excellent. The Overture to The Tempest and The Oceanides receive very atmospheric, colorful performances. Night Ride and Sunrise has a lot of snap and vigor in its rhythms, certainly one of the best performances I've heard. You expect Jochum to be fine in Wagner (think of his Meistersinger), and the excerpts here from Lohengrin and Parsifal are beautiful. There are some problems in the sound engineering of the Wagner, though. The Lohengrin Prelude becomes harsh at its loudest moments, and the Parsifal excerpts do not have the luxurious sound they enjoyed on LP, when they appeared with Bruckner 5. That said, this CD certainly adds appreciably to our understanding of Eugen Jochum. Next stop on surprising Jochum repertoire, his Orfeo CDs of Verdi's Requiem."