As a Gothenburg resident I just want to comment on the engineering and sound. The concert hall of our city is after almost 90 years since it was built still considered to have one of the best acoustics in the world. Check out pictures of it and you will understand why.
Excuse my melodrama but I just had one of those moments today when one finally fully appreciates a work throughout. I'm not really sure why but I've been on a quest to have all 7 + 2 symphonies gilded in my heart and the 6th, 4th have taken so much time but you've been such a great help. I was on my work lunch listening to your recommendation at a park and the symphony just kept me engaged until the end where it ends it so softly, abruptly, mysteriously, and dramatic. My eyes widened, my jaw dropped and I covered my mouth😮😂. I thought no wayyyy❤❤❤ it was beautiful. I can't get it out of my head now! Anyway, thank you for what u do. It's so very very much appreciated friend. 🤘🌻
@DavesClassicalGuide Claro, my trust in the art is high. The end became so devastatingly poignant that it left me stuck on everything that had lead up to it 💔😱. Anyway, on to the 4th......in time.
What you said! That elegaic theme in the finale: is it praying with gratitude for the gift of life, ending with an ominous whimper. I always imagined children at play in the first movement. I also heard similarities to the 3rd here and there in the earlier movements that I hadn’t heard before. Anyway, whatever the inspiration for the Finale was, I teared up. You feel it, but like you said, you can’t describe it! Yes indeed, it’s SO BEAUTIFUL! PS the Entre acte in the Peleus is a must have Sibelius!
I agree. I don't always agree with Dave, but his Sibelius recommendations tend to be spot on. I've purchased the Blomstedt box set of the symphonies as well as Petri Sakari's recording of the 7th based on his recommendations and he was absolutely right in both cases. (I had some trepidations about that Sakari 7th, but then I listened and he was right: it's probably my favorite 7th right now.)
YES! Absolutely. Stunning music, superbly played and recorded. And still largely unknown, although Järvi's recordings brought them to a much wider audience. They have been released as a box set, so a perfect candidate for greatest recordings ever!
It will be fascinating to listen to this. I'd also like to put in a mention for Beecham's 1947 recording, which may be almost unlistenable these days in terms of sonics but which cast quite a spell in its day and which was reportedly Sibelius' own favourite among all the recordings of his symphonies made during his lifetime.
@DavesClassicalGuide I know, but nobody's perfect. At least we got to hear it. Then later the cycle was packaged as 5 cds for the price of 3 which helped.
Recently we played this symphony with my student orchestra. The conductor mentioned the cool spring water several times. This was the recording I listened to in preparation, based on your Sibelius 6 video. It was beautiful symphony to rehearse en play but not the most fun for a trumpeter like myself.
Let's face it, Dave--you are an antique, and so am I! From my vantage, the recordings of the early 1980's are "recent" issues. Shocking to realize that they almost qualify as "historic" recordings. For all that I am an inveterate Sibelian, I can't say that I've ever heard this recording of Sibelius 6. I have Jarvi's DG set--pretty good all around to my ears. But my personal favorite will always be Karajan/DG. That conductor really had a flair for Sibelius, at least when he was in the mood, and he certainly was when he recorded the Sixth for DG. That work, for some reason, speaks to me particularly deeply. And I like different approaches. I recently heard Bernstein/Sony for the first time and was blown away by his bold, upbeat and at times almost balletic appreach. No pastoral idyll for him, and I found it very refreshing, even if I still favor Karajan in this work.
Dave - Thanks so much for reminding me of this record - I have a vivid memory of listening to it (on vinyl) at the Boston Public Library in 1986 (I was probably cutting my trigonometry class). It wasn’t my first listen to the 6th (I already owned Alexander Gibson’s cycle with the RSNO), but hearing this record was truly transporting. Nearly 40 years on, I still believe this symphony is the most beautiful 25 minutes of music anyone composed in the 1920s. Broadly, Sibelius was “outsider music” when I first encountered him in the early 80s. How very wrong the academics had things back then…
In solid agreement with you here. Comes down to Jarvi or Blomstedt. Getting the tempo relationships right, making sure the harp can be heard, keeping the dotted rhythms together in the third movement and linking the coda of the fourth movement to the opening of the first are just a few things the conductor has to get right in this elusive work. Jarvi succeeds at all of them.
Sibelius was described to me as someone with a cold exterior but a warm heart, best reflected in the 6th. I'm anticipating Dave's the best recording of Debussy's Preludes EVER. Imho it's between Rouvier and Michelangeli.
There is a fabulous Berlin Classics (Eterna) recording of Symphony 6 with Paavo Berglund conducting the RSO Berlin. It is paired with Herbert Kegel conducting RSO Leipzig in No 4. Wonder what you think? I am surprised it never gets noticed. The Berglund performance is my favourite No 6.
I have an issue with his approach to the piece--the finale especially, which Sibelius marks "Allegro molto." It's not bad, but it's not right. I got that disc for the Kegel 4th.
I got Jarvi's 'En Saga' on your recommendation in the same series, and it sounds great! Also just picked up Saint Saens' Symphonies No.2 and 'Urbs Roma' with Tapiola Sinfonietta on early BIS, and the sound (and playing) is impeccable!
The Järvi Sibelius was what I often recommended to the customers in my CD shop back when they came out. For a start their engineering is superb.....try the Lemminkäinen Suite on BIS CD 294, the rolled bass drum'll blow your socks off (Edit. Just had a look at your piece on the Leminkäinen Suite/Sym! Nice to know you agree about the Järvi) I have many other recordings of Sibelius, but this is the series I return to time and again!
First movement here one of the greatest 8 minutes of my life.
As a Gothenburg resident I just want to comment on the engineering and sound. The concert hall of our city is after almost 90 years since it was built still considered to have one of the best acoustics in the world. Check out pictures of it and you will understand why.
And they did in the days before computer modeling made things easier. Truly a great accomplishment.
I was in Gothenburg 10 years ago and I sadly missed the concert hall. A nice city anyway, lucky you!
Neeme Jarvi in Gotenburg also did a wonderful Borodin symphony cycle. The sheer joy and rumbustiousness of No. 1 for example.
Excuse my melodrama but I just had one of those moments today when one finally fully appreciates a work throughout. I'm not really sure why but I've been on a quest to have all 7 + 2 symphonies gilded in my heart and the 6th, 4th have taken so much time but you've been such a great help. I was on my work lunch listening to your recommendation at a park and the symphony just kept me engaged until the end where it ends it so softly, abruptly, mysteriously, and dramatic. My eyes widened, my jaw dropped and I covered my mouth😮😂. I thought no wayyyy❤❤❤ it was beautiful. I can't get it out of my head now! Anyway, thank you for what u do. It's so very very much appreciated friend. 🤘🌻
I'm thrilled that the 6th finally "hit" you! Thanks for sticking with it.
@DavesClassicalGuide Claro, my trust in the art is high. The end became so devastatingly poignant that it left me stuck on everything that had lead up to it 💔😱. Anyway, on to the 4th......in time.
The only time I took the BIS Warning Notices seriously was with the music of Jón Leifs.
Thank you for introducing me to this recording. I picked it up three years ago and it's been staple nourishment in my collection ever since.
What you said! That elegaic theme in the finale: is it praying with gratitude for the gift of life, ending with an ominous whimper. I always imagined children at play in the first movement. I also heard similarities to the 3rd here and there in the earlier movements that I hadn’t heard before. Anyway, whatever the inspiration for the Finale was, I teared up. You feel it, but like you said, you can’t describe it! Yes indeed, it’s SO BEAUTIFUL! PS the Entre acte in the Peleus is a must have Sibelius!
Best critic and best reviewer of all things Sibelius ❤️I will now try to get this.
I agree. I don't always agree with Dave, but his Sibelius recommendations tend to be spot on. I've purchased the Blomstedt box set of the symphonies as well as Petri Sakari's recording of the 7th based on his recommendations and he was absolutely right in both cases. (I had some trepidations about that Sakari 7th, but then I listened and he was right: it's probably my favorite 7th right now.)
As a body of work, I'd say Jarvi's Bis recordings of Tubin symphonies is also a greatest recordings EVAHH! candidate
Except that the 4th, which is one of the best symphonies, is a terrible live recording in bad sound.
YES! Absolutely. Stunning music, superbly played and recorded. And still largely unknown, although Järvi's recordings brought them to a much wider audience. They have been released as a box set, so a perfect candidate for greatest recordings ever!
It will be fascinating to listen to this. I'd also like to put in a mention for Beecham's 1947 recording, which may be almost unlistenable these days in terms of sonics but which cast quite a spell in its day and which was reportedly Sibelius' own favourite among all the recordings of his symphonies made during his lifetime.
@DavesClassicalGuide I know, but nobody's perfect. At least we got to hear it. Then later the cycle was packaged as 5 cds for the price of 3 which helped.
Recently we played this symphony with my student orchestra. The conductor mentioned the cool spring water several times. This was the recording I listened to in preparation, based on your Sibelius 6 video. It was beautiful symphony to rehearse en play but not the most fun for a trumpeter like myself.
Let's face it, Dave--you are an antique, and so am I! From my vantage, the recordings of the early 1980's are "recent" issues. Shocking to realize that they almost qualify as "historic" recordings. For all that I am an inveterate Sibelian, I can't say that I've ever heard this recording of Sibelius 6. I have Jarvi's DG set--pretty good all around to my ears. But my personal favorite will always be Karajan/DG. That conductor really had a flair for Sibelius, at least when he was in the mood, and he certainly was when he recorded the Sixth for DG. That work, for some reason, speaks to me particularly deeply. And I like different approaches. I recently heard Bernstein/Sony for the first time and was blown away by his bold, upbeat and at times almost balletic appreach. No pastoral idyll for him, and I found it very refreshing, even if I still favor Karajan in this work.
Dave - Thanks so much for reminding me of this record - I have a vivid memory of listening to it (on vinyl) at the Boston Public Library in 1986 (I was probably cutting my trigonometry class). It wasn’t my first listen to the 6th (I already owned Alexander Gibson’s cycle with the RSNO), but hearing this record was truly transporting. Nearly 40 years on, I still believe this symphony is the most beautiful 25 minutes of music anyone composed in the 1920s.
Broadly, Sibelius was “outsider music” when I first encountered him in the early 80s. How very wrong the academics had things back then…
That's a great one, I agree. In my listening experience, Neeme Järvi is a pretty dependably good conductor, whatever the orchestra or music.
In solid agreement with you here. Comes down to Jarvi or Blomstedt. Getting the tempo relationships right, making sure the harp can be heard, keeping the dotted rhythms together in the third movement and linking the coda of the fourth movement to the opening of the first are just a few things the conductor has to get right in this elusive work. Jarvi succeeds at all of them.
I love the warning signs on the front cover. Hilarious.
Sibelius was described to me as someone with a cold exterior but a warm heart, best reflected in the 6th. I'm anticipating Dave's the best recording of Debussy's Preludes EVER. Imho it's between Rouvier and Michelangeli.
This recording is very hard to find, but I just put an order in for a new disk -- with delivery promised by October 1.
There is a fabulous Berlin Classics (Eterna) recording of Symphony 6 with Paavo Berglund conducting the RSO Berlin. It is paired with Herbert Kegel conducting RSO Leipzig in No 4. Wonder what you think? I am surprised it never gets noticed. The Berglund performance is my favourite No 6.
I have an issue with his approach to the piece--the finale especially, which Sibelius marks "Allegro molto." It's not bad, but it's not right. I got that disc for the Kegel 4th.
I got Jarvi's 'En Saga' on your recommendation in the same series, and it sounds great! Also just picked up Saint Saens' Symphonies No.2 and 'Urbs Roma' with Tapiola Sinfonietta on early BIS, and the sound (and playing) is impeccable!
40 years 😮😮😮no!
The Järvi Sibelius was what I often recommended to the customers in my CD shop back when they came out. For a start their engineering is superb.....try the Lemminkäinen Suite on BIS CD 294, the rolled bass drum'll blow your socks off (Edit. Just had a look at your piece on the Leminkäinen Suite/Sym! Nice to know you agree about the Järvi) I have many other recordings of Sibelius, but this is the series I return to time and again!