Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies [Box Set] [Box set]

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 1, for orchestra in E minor Op. 39
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

2. Symphony No. 4, for orchestra in A minor, Op. 63
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

3. Symphony No. 2, for orchestra in D major, Op. 43
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

4. Symphony No. 5, for orchestra in E-flat major, Op. 82
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

5. Symphony No. 3, for orchestra in C major, Op. 52
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

6. Symphony No. 6, for orchestra in D minor, Op. 104
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

7. Symphony No. 7, for orchestra in C major, Op. 105
Composed by Jean Sibelius
Performed by Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Conducted by Wilfred Wilson Gibson

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In E Minor Op.39: I Andante ma non troppo - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 1 In E Minor Op.39: II Andante ma non troppo lento - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 1 In E Minor Op.39: III Scherzo: Allegro ma non troppo - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 1 In E Minor Op.39: IV Finale (Quasi una fantasia): Andante-Allegro molto - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No.4 In A Minor Op.63: Symph. 2: Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No.4 In A Minor Op.63: Allegro molto vivace - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No.4 In A Minor Op.63: Il tempo largo - Jean Sibelius
Symphony No.4 In A Minor Op.63: Allegro - Jean Sibelius

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op.43: I Allegretto - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op.43: II Tempo andante ma rubato - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op.43: III Vivacissimo; Lento a suave - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op.43: IV Finale: Allegro moderato - J. Sibelius
Symphony No.5 In E Flat Major Op.82: I Tempo molto moderato-Allegro moderato - J. Sibelius
Symphony No.5 In E Flat Major Op.82: II Andante mosso, quasi allegretto - J. Sibelius
Symphony No.5 In E Flat Major Op.82: III Allegro molto - J. Sibelius

Tracks:

Symphony No.3 In C Major Op. 52: I Allegro moderato - J. Sibelius
Symphony No.3 In C Major Op. 52: II Andantino con molto, quasi allegret - J. Sibelius
Symphony No.3 In C Major Op. 52: III Moderato - Allegro (ma non tanto) - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor Op. 104: I Allegro molto moderato - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor Op. 104: II Allegro moderato - Poco con moto - Tempo I - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor Op. 104: III Poco vivace - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 6 In D Minor Op. 104: IV Allegro molto - Allegro assai - Doppio piu lento - J. Sibelius
Symphony No. 7 In C Major Op. 105: In one movement - J. Sibelius

Customer Reviews:

A most satisfying cycle.......2007-02-15

Cycles of Sibelius symphones abound - but this is a special one. Gloriously rich recording and totally idiomatic playing by SNO makes this a most impressive cycle. There is no weakness anywhere. Not to be missed !

An Absolutely fine complete collection.......2000-10-30

On my first hearing of the forth Symphony in this collection, I was quite taken by the faster than usual pace given to this clear and precise reading. I have never heard it performed in this manner before and believe it to be very refreshing in all the symphonies stark loneliness. The Sixth symphony is also given a quick, yet poetic, reading. Putting the great performances aside, the excellent consistancy of orchestral dynamics throughout, the top-shelf professional recording, and the excellent price, make this a "MUST HAVE" in any collection (even and especially to those ears that are new to the great masters work). Highly Recommended!

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies, Kullervo

Average customer rating:

Not the best.
Fabulous Budget Recording
Grab this boxed set. For this price it can't be beat!

Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies, Kullervo
Jean Sibelius , Petri Sakari , and Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lemminkinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for orchestra, Op. 22
Rachmaninov: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos
Mendelssohn: The Complete Symphonies & String Symphonies
Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies

ASIN: B00005QISF
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

Andante Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Energico
Andante (Ma Non Troppo Lento)
Scherzo (Allegro)
Finale (Quasi Una Fantasia)
Allegro Moderato
Moderato - Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)
Moderato - Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)

Tracks:

Allegretto
Andante Ma Rubato
Vivacissimo
Allegro Moderato
The Oak Tree
Humoresque
Caliban's Song
The Harvesters
Canon
Scene
Intrada - Berceuse
Entr'acte - Arial's Song
The Storm

Tracks:

Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio
Allegro Molto Vivace
Tempo Largo
Allegro
Tempo Molto Moderato
Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto
Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Allegro Molto Moderato
Allegretto Moderato
Poco Vivace
Allgro Molto
Chorus Of The Winds
Intermezzo
Dance Of The Nymphs
Prospero
Song I & II
Miranda
The Naiads
Dance Episode
Symphony No.7 In C Major Op.105

Tracks:

Introduction - Esa Ruuttunen
Kullervo's Youth - Esa Ruuttunen
Kullervo's And His Sister - Esa Ruuttunen
Kullervo's Goes To War - Esa Ruuttunen
Kullervo's Death - Esa Ruuttunen

Amazon.com

From the Slavic-tinged exuberance of the First and Second to the dark undercurrents of the Fourth and Fifth and the passionate abstraction of the Sixth and Seventh, Sibelius's symphonies loom larger than ever among the 20th century's influential orchestral landmarks. Petri Sakari charts the composer's rugged, sometimes cryptic terrain with authority and inspires the Iceland Symphony Orchestra to a generous and heartfelt performance. You won't find the opulent sheen of Karajan's or Ormandy's Sibelius, nor the micro details Paavo Berglund elicits from his Chamber Orchestra of Europe remakes, but Naxos's modest asking price will bring you idiomatic, atmospheric, deeply felt performances that reveal more with each hearing. Jorma Panula's fine traversal of Kullervo ranks close to Berglund's reference EMI version (the earlier of his two for the label). A Sibelius cycle, in sum, to stand at the top of the list alongside Davis-Boston (Philips), Vanska-Lahti (BIS), and Berglund-Helsinki (EMI). --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Not the best........2006-11-10

The Icelandic orchestra plays these symphonies quite well, giving the conductor everything he asks. Naxos has given the performances rather bland sonics. They would be fine if the performances were better. But each symphony seems jerked and pulled around, going faster and slower at the whim of the conductor (changes not indicated in the scores). This means that CD1 - Symphonies #1 and #3 lose shape and seemingly go no where. Symphony #5 doesn't build the way it should. The heartwrenching emotional outbursts in the slow movement of #4 just don't grab us. Listen to Beecham or Bernstein or Rozhdestvensky (or Watanabe with Japan - nla), and you hear this. Symphony #6 and Symphony #7 fare better, but even they sound cautious and ill framed. Sibelius, after all, said that a symphony must be the supreme expression of logic (to which Mahler answered, "No, a symphony must embrace the world.") These performances do neither. The Kullervo (with a different orchestra and conductor), however, is wonderful. I'd suggest a buyer get that alone and leave the box to someone else.

Fabulous Budget Recording.......2006-03-13

This complete recording of the Sibelius symphonies is more than just a budget recording. The Iceland Symphony Orchestra with Petri Sakari does a great job in all aspects of the performance. They seem to create a Scandinavian atmosphere that is inherent in these symphonies. One feels transported to the mountains, forests, and lakes of Lapland; the cool airs, the vast, open spaces. Very poetic, to be sure, but the orchestra really brings these qualities out in the music. Their technical skill is on par as well. These players could stand up to the best orchestras, but we get to hear them for a far lower price. The two suites that Sibelius wrote for Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" also accompany the symphonies. While they are obviously weaker works, the suites come alive in the hands of the capable performers. In addition, the set contains the dramatic tone poem Kullervo. It is an amazing work, though on first listen, one may feel that the piece drags on. It takes more than one listen to catch how packed it is with musical substance. The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra plays Kullervo, but with no less verve and competence than the Iceland Symphony. Kudos to Naxos on creating a box set collection at budget price with such great performances and such voluminous liner notes.

Grab this boxed set. For this price it can't be beat!.......2003-02-15

I am surprised, no shocked, that my customer review is the first to appear for this boxed set of the Sibelius symphonies a year after it became available. I would have imagined that SOMEONE would have written of their enthusiasm for the set. When I saw no one had done so, I had to stop what I was doing and start writing.

Sibelius's symphonies are surely among the best of the 20th century. His unmistable sound world, his creative transformations of symphony form, his dramatic and lyric abilities all made him an original, a treasure. Certainly there have been other invaluable recordings of the symphonies - Berglund, Colin Davis, Karajan, Ormandy, Barbirolli. But for someone coming to the symphonies and wanting them all you couldn't start with a better set, not at THIS price.

Petri Sakari and his Icelanders do a bang-up job. Don't be fooled, this Iceland orchestra is a fine group.

For lagniappe there is fine performance of 'Kullervo' with Jorma Panula (another Sibelian) conducting.