Benchmark sixth and throughout very fine playing/recording
09/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My benchmark in the sixth has always been the early 60s Karajan performamnce, closely followed by Beecham's late 40s version. However, this has now changed! Vanska provides a reading of the sixth that is almost ideal in its combination of atmosphere and textual clarity. Never before has this work sounded so true to the composer's description as a cocktail of pure spring water. The scherzo in particular is outstanding with its unforced rhythm to the fore.The seventh is, frankly, less remarkable, but is still a performance to be reckoned with. Again, Vanksa and his excellent Lahti players are at their best in the faster scherzando section towards the end of the work. The CD is rounded off by a very fine and (again) atmospheric version of Tapiola, with some superbly evocative wind playing. However, for Tapiola I would ultimately take Karajan's 1965 DG version to the desert island.The sound quality is equivalent to the best from this source, being full and sonorous, and having a believable sense of space. Highly recommended."
Outstanding Sibelius
Ed Luhrs | Long Island, NY USA | 06/02/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I always loved Karajan's recordings of symphonies 4-7 from the 1960's, and I still hold them in highest regard. However, I feel that it's important to hear more than one version of Sibelius's later symphonies. And this recording of 6,7, and Tapiola with Osmo Vanska/Lahti is just awesome. You hear the woodwinds and strings with such well defined clarity, and everything is so naturally phrased. Seems true to the spirit of the music, though again, it's good to hear more than one version. I do think #6 is nearly perfect on all counts. #7 is top-notch, and the Tapiola is excellent. If you are a first-time fan of Sibelius's latter work, this is a great place to start. This digital recording is outstanding."
Astonishing!
Scott Chamberlain | Minneapolis, MN United States | 09/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have greatly enjoyed Vänskä's recordings with Lahti, and his Sibelius discs are all in a class by themselves. But this one is special among the special, and an ideal place to being exploring these works, Sibelius in general, or Vänskä's recorded output. The crystaline purity of the lines of the 6th, the deep intellegence in how it all comes together... the 6th emerges as a spectacular score, every bit as dramatic as the more outgoing 7th. Another thing interesting about this disc is how the pieces play off one another. Distinct in sound, mood, and construction, they balance each other well and make for a rounded listening experience."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1