Search - Jean Sibelius, Neeme Järvi, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra :: Sibelius: Violin Concerto, etc.

Superb disc

teva_man | United States | 07/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always been baffled as to why Silvia Marcovici hasn't recorded more.

Her performances display a complete command of whatever she happens to be playing. Like Henryk Szeryng, she has a very high bow arm and her stage presence is strikingly memorable. Her tone is robust and her intonation always very secure. She is not a musical risk-taker and perhaps the downfall of many of her performances is a lack of musical imagination or substantial individuality. Nevertheless, she is one of the world's finest violinists, and it's too bad that either she opted out of recording or no big labels signed her. As for this disc - it is superb. This is one of the first recordings of the Sibelius that I ever heard and at the time I first heard it, I was really impressed by it. Although I prefer Cho Liang Lin's recording to all others, this one is definitely a noble entry in the catalogue of Sibelius recordings. The other works on the disc are nice, if somewhat unmemorable. Supposedly Sibelius demanded that "In Memoriam", a funeral dirge, be played at his own funeral. I'm sure it hasn't been played at any others...it is a well-written but very depressing piece.

Neeme Jarvi, who can always be counted on for fine leadership, does very well again here. I have to agree with the review below - this is a disc that should be about $4.99 by now. It was first released in 1987!"

Very young Sibelius plus the great violin concerto

HB | Fort Mill, SC | 04/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since it is unlikely that many people are going to shell out $20.00 for a recording of the violin concerto here, I can only say that the three short works from Sibelius' youth are all delightful. Frankly, they do not sound at all like the mature Sibelius but they are so enjoyable. There are hints of the later Sibelius, especially in the final work, In Memoriam. But you may really be shocked by the other two works. This recording has been around for a very long time. Bis should reissue it at a budget price. However, I am not sure they even have a budget label."