Search - Sibelius, Kavakos, Lahti Symphony Orch :: Legend of Jean Sibelius

Sibelius the Tone Poet

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 07/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a repackaging of previously issued Sibelius recordings by Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony. It is called 'Legend of Jean Sibelius' and presumably is issued for those who had not been buying the earlier configurations of the ongoing Vänskä/Lahti series.



Amazon has not, as of this review, listed the contents of the two CDs. They include Finlandia; the Karelia Suite; the second version of the Violin Concerto (with Leonidas Kavakos who has recorded both versions with this orchestra); The Oceanides; Valse Triste; Andante Festivo; En Saga; Pohjola's Daughter; The Wood Nymph; Tapiola; and the March of the Pori Regiment in that order. (Why the insipid Pori Regiment March was included AFTER the valedictory Tapiola I cannot fathom. Tapiola should be the last thing you hear on this set; trust me, it will leave you wrung out.)



In his series of the Sibelius Symphonies Vänskä proved himself to be an eminent Sibelian and one can expect, and be justified, that he will show the same qualities in this performances. The Lahti Orchestra, which is truly his invention -- he took it over when it was a semi-pro outfit and molded it into a world-class orchestra, is outstanding here. They manage the larger-than-life dramatics of 'En Saga' just as well as they do the almost minimalist 'Tapiola.' A major achievement.



Bottom line: If you don't have many of these pieces in your collection, you would be well-advised to get this collection. The performance of 'Pohjola's Daughter' is the best I've heard. And the 'Andante Festivo' sounds much more like a major piece here than I've ever heard it, achieving a kind of intensity that is rare in my experience.



Scott Morrison"