Thread: Sibelius symphonies box sets - DG or BIS?

Originally Posted by Aksel

I also prefer the Osmo Vänskä with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra recordings on BIS.

Yes.
And the BIS label always has excellent sound.

Originally Posted by World Violist

And those Kajanus recordings are really expensive, too. On Amazon US, there are reissues of Symphonies 2 and 5 from Kajanus' original cycle, the second filled (I believe) with Heifetz's first reading of the violin concerto, the fifth filled with Kajanus' recording of Tapiola and Schneevoigt's recording of the sixth symphony. So, all still 1930's or earlier. But my real beef comes with the fact that I can't get Kajanus' recording of the third symphony without paying $50 or something.

I’m not sure on whether it is available in the States but Warner classics have issued a boxed set of historic Sibelius recordings at about £15. The recordings may not be hi fi but they are perfectly listenable to, after all they were originally recorded by HMV in the thirties and presumably Warner as successor company owns the original masters. As well as the 7 symphonies there is the Violin concerto with Heifetz and Beecham and a lot of orchestral pieces, string quartet and songs. And Kajanus is magnificent.

Originally Posted by taylor16

Any thoughts or impressions on Rattle's recently released cycle? I'm new to Sibelius and absolutely love his music and want to know how others feel about the release.

I have the same problem with the BPO cycle that I had with Rattle's earlier cycle. It just doesn't wholly connect with me yet it has its moments . Its not bad (far from it) but it occasionallyhhas an unnatural feel and is just too deliberate. Its as if every symphony has been carefully mapped out and he's sticking to the plan rigidly. It works well in some of the later ones but not always in the earlier ones.