Search - Jean Sibelius, Lorin Maazel, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra :: Jean Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7

Getting better

07/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are two ways to look at this effort: comparing it to Maazel's own earlier effort, and listening to it in light of what else has been done to advocate these works.Interpretatively, Maazel is quite a bit beyond what he did with the Vienna Phil for London 30 some years ago. The Pittsburgh actually plays better for him, too, probably both from quality and commitment standpoints. Maazel has his points covered--phrasing, build, balance, tempi, all there, though I wish we had more of him, himself. It's all a little too much of going through the motions, and the rustic flavors in the First's third movement are beyond him: everything degenerates into playing in patterns.The Seventh succeeds in spite of him, but it's always been a lot more accessible than we've thought. Maazel gets the drama and the forward look and does get you to realize how close this is to many of Schoenberg's early works...and that's an original, valid interpretative point.However, this disk won't get anywhere to overshadowing the achievements of Barbirolli or Ehrling in the First or Beecham, Ormandy, Koussevitsky or Golschmann in the Seventh, not to mention all those old Scandanavian interpreters (Schneevoigt, Tuxen, Kajanus, et.al.) And if you ever have a chance to hear Italian conductor Gaetano Delogu give his take on the Seventh, you're in for something really special.This disk documents Maazel more than it does Sibelius and as such, it's perhaps not worth an investment. But it gets three stars for inherent qualities."

Full of Wonder and Warmth

Timothy Mikolay | 11/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Amazon.com shipped this title to me quickly, and so I quickly opened it and anxiously listened to these two symphonies. I heard Keith Lockhart in Utah conduct the 2nd Sibelius and decided that I needed to hear more. Lorin Maazel seems to have a reputation with Sibelius symphonies, so I chose this recording. Both works moved me more than a recording has in a long time. True I am hearing the works for the first times, but Lorin Maazel and the Pittsburgh Orchestra are to be credited for making such wonderful recordings. I've been a big fan of Herr von Karajan, but now I have been opened to the interpretations of Lorin Maazel and am excited to hear other works he has conducted."

Great line!

Timothy Mikolay | Pittsburgh, PA | 05/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I don't listen to the 1st symphony much, this 7th fascinates me. I can't tell if it's boring or mysterious, banal or profound but I am convinced that the orchestra and Maazel had quite a bond of music-making happening here. The strings play beautifully and the winds execute with balance and taste. The towering trombone solo at the end is simply majestic.There is enough tension to keep the listener captivated and this is a plus and the key to the success of this recording."