Search - Jean Sibelius, Neeme Järvi, Charlotte Forsberg :: Sibelius: Spring Song, Op.16/The Bard, Op.64

Adequate Recording, Peripheral Music.

Warlen Bassham | Bothell, WA United States | 02/09/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I am a Sibelius fanatic, but that obsession is based almost entirely on the Symphonies and three of the major tone poems. Many of JS's lesser-known orchestral works remain obscure largely because they fall into an entirely different category of composition from the major works-- namely, they tend to be much lighter and less secure of creation.This recording contains much of this latter sort of music. 'The Bard' was the only piece on it that I had ever heard before. I bought the CD not because I thought I would love it, but because I felt my understanding of Sibelius was incomplete without knowing these 'lesser' works.Given my intention in buying it, the CD contains exactly what I thought it would-- music that is of interest to the student of Sibelius for reasons of historical perspective, but nothing earthshaking or revelatory. The performances are fine. The sound is adequate. The key here is that most of these pieces are available *nowhere else* ! If you want to hear them at all, this is the only way you can!"'Nuff' said.""