Building an "All-Star" Cycle of Sibelius Symphonies

It's been quite a long time since I've updated the blog--summer jobs, law school, and constant assignments have taken up just about all of my time.

In the last month, I've been listening extensively to Sibelius. After this week's freezing cold blast of Arctic weather that's left Seattle and the rest of Western Washington under a blanket of snow, his music seems particularly appropriate.

Sibelius is one of my favorite composers, but it seems that I listen to his music in fits and spurts. Before my current tangent into his music, it had been almost a year since I devoted much time to him even though I've amassed a half-dozen box sets of his symphonies and tone poems as well as dozens of other CDs of his music. Every time I return to his unique sound-world, I'm floored by how intricately complex it is--in spite of its veneer of directness and simplicity.

My music project of late has been to listen through all of the disparate interpretations of Sibelius symphonies in my collection to create an "ideal" cycle. Of course, in music, as in all art, "ideal" is subjective. But here is my "all-star" cycle, for what it's worth:

Symphony No. 1 in E minor, op 39: Leif Segerstam/Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (available on Ondine)

Immaculate recorded sound, incisively rhythmic, expressively played, and a hell of a lot of excitement from an orchestra that has Sibelius in their blood. The scherzo is not rushed; occasionally, conductors put the pedal to the metal in this movement, trying to make it sound much more like Tchaikovsky than Sibelius.
Sibelius, J.: Symphonies Nos. 1 And 7 (Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Other recommendations: n/a. This one's pretty much definitive for me.

Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 43: Leonard Bernstein/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (available on DG)

This is a controversial recording--many consider Bernstein's tempo choices (uniformly on the slow side) to be overly self-indulgent. I say, "let Bernstein be Bernstein." His first recording, with the New York Philharmonic on Sony, is legendary and features fast tempos and perfect execution. But I greatly prefer this second recording, made with the Vienna Philharmonic near the end of his life. Tempos in the first and second movements are drastically slower than in any other recording of the Second I've heard, but it brings a relaxed and almost autumnal quality to the first movement while transforming the second movement into a "cathedral of sound" that could have been at home in a Bruckner symphony. Highly idiosyncratic, but highly recommended. If you're looking for a more up-tempo, traditional take on the Second, try Bernstein's first recording or Szell's excellent recording with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw.
Leonard Bernstein Conducts Sibelius (Collectors Edition)
Other recommendations: George Szell/Concertgebouw Orchestra (EMI), Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony).

Symphony No. 3 in C major, op. 52: Sir Colin Davis/London Symphony Orchestra (available on LSO Live)

Colin Davis's second Sibelius cycle simply can't match his first cycle with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in most respects; the major exception is in the Third Symphony. Davis underplays the "classical" aspects of the symphony and gives it a more full-blooded Romantic flavor--the LSO's horns are particularly rich and warm in the denouement of the first movement and the finale of the third. This recording may be my favorite of all my Sibelius recordings.
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7 [Hybrid SACD]
Other recommendations: Herbert Blomstedt/San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (Decca).



Symphony No. 4 in A minor, op. 63: Osmo Vanska/Lahti Symphony Orchestra (available on BIS)

I struggled with this pick more than any of the others combined. I was initially tempted to pick Neeme Jarvi's recording with the Gothenberg Symphony, but the great, anguished climax of the third movement fizzles. Then I gravitated towards Herbert von Karajan's legendary recording with the Berlin Philharmonic, but it seemed to be too much head and not enough heart (not atypical with Karajan). After listening to all the versions I owned, I found that the Vanska was what jumped out at me. The third movement is paced gorgeously and the rumbling low brass in the movement's climax is is gut-wrenching. The strange, wandering oboe solo of the second movement is executed perfectly--elusive and mysterious.
 Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 And 4
Other recommendations: Jarvi/Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra (DG), Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG), Segerstam/Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (Ondine).

Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, op. 82: Osmo Vanska/Lahti Symphony Orchestra (available on BIS)

Unlike my pick for the Fourth, this was a shockingly easy choice for me; like the Fourth, I picked Vanska's recording. Vanska has explored, internalized, and interpreted the score unlike any other conductor I have heard; the first movement's climactic episode where the tempo suddenly surges forward is carried off perfectly, and every detail can be heard with crystal clarity. The second movement's contemplative minuet is played beautifully, particularly by the flutes, and Vanska chooses the ideal tempo for the third movement's swan song theme. I would love for him to record a Sibelius cycle with his current orchestra in Minnesota.
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 (Original and Final Versions)
Other recommendations: n/a. This is head and shoulders above any other version I've heard.


Symphony No. 6 in D minor, op. 104: Sir Colin Davis/Boston Symphony Orchestra (available on Phillips)

Another difficult choice--but on balance, Davis' reading with Boston comes out on top. This is Sibelius's most delicate symphony, extremely dependent on precise and carefully considered phrasing and execution in the woodwinds. The Boston winds are spectacular; the orchestra's "French" playing style is well-suited to the diaphanous, almost impressionistic backdrops upon which the woodwinds weave melodies.
Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies 2
Other recommendations: Vanska/Lahti Symphony Orchestra (BIS), Paavo Berglund/Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (EMI).



Symphony No. 7 in C major, op. 105: Lorin Maazel/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (available on London)

When setting out on creating an "all-star" roster of Sibelius symphonies, I wouldn't have guessed that I would ultimately choose two Vienna Philharmonic performances--perhaps that has more to do with the sheer quality of the orchestra's musicianship than the amount of their affinity with Sibelius. Maazel's recording of the Seventh is his strongest of the cycle he recorded with the Viennese; the main theme presented by the solo trombone soars above the rest of the ensemble with as much majesty as can be asked for. In the Seventh, the peculiarly plaintive tone color of the Vienna Philharmonic's trademark unique oboes suits the music quite well. This was a close call, though. Colin Davis's second London Symphony recording is a highlight of that cycle as well, even in spite of the rather dry acoustics of Barbican Hall, where the cycle was recorded.
Sibelius: The Symphonies
Other recommendations: Davis/London Symphony Orchestra (LSO Live), Vanska/Lahti Symphony Orchestra (BIS).