Search - Sibelius, Rattle, Birmingham Symphony :: Symphonies 4 & 6

Rattle Has the Full Measure of These Masterpieces

Moldyoldie | Motown, USA | 08/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My earnest introduction to both of these great symphonies came right here on this CD when it was originally released in 1990. Here was Sibelius that immediately sounded radically different from the popular First, Second, and Fifth Symphonies. Gone were the heroic declarations and Late Romantic gushes, replaced by an introspection that was at times brooding and morose, at other times grudgingly optimistic. After hearing several other renditions over the years, I'll declare that Rattle and his Birmingham Orchestra have the full measure of both these works in interpretations that are thoroughly inside the idiom and performed with great sensitivity to nuance in tempo, dynamics and orchestral balance.



The Sixth is probably my current favorite symphony among the Sibelius Seven and I've yet to hear a performance of the Fourth that wasn't at least intriguing, but this same pairing in Paavo Berglund's most recent complete cycle with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe on the Finlandia label (Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6) sounds comparatively uninspired, leaden and pedantic next to Rattle's, despite incredible textural clarity and more current state-of-the-art sound. This EMI recording is also very fine with plenty of presence across the spectrum and a wide dynamic range -- the breathtaking pianissimos are whisper light! There are times when I would have preferred a more subdued or nuanced balance in louder tutti sections, but the clear bursts of brass in the Fourth Symphony are most affecting; the woodwinds in the Sixth are balanced subtly atop the strings in all the right places -- just the way I like it!



Though Rattle's performances here aren't often mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Karajan, Davis, Bernstein, and other heavyweights; nor with the rightly esteemed native Finnish performances from the likes of Vänskä and Segerstam; I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this recording to either the novice or veteran listener -- it does Sibelius proud, in my opinion, and can be had for a comparative pittance."