What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[Toccata]

The Rzewski today. Wow, Levit plays this viciously demanding piece even more compellingly than does Marc-Andre Hamelin. Better sound, too.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by Toccata

The Oceanides--very powerful.

I just got this remastered set. It includes 4 CDs plus a single Blu-ray Audio disc with all the symphonies. It was recommended by The Absolute Sound. Need to make my way through it.

Sibelius:
Symphonies Nos. 1-7 (complete)
Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Tapiola, Op. 112
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel

[aardvarkbark]

Originally Posted by cma29

I just got this remastered set. It includes 4 CDs plus a single Blu-ray Audio disc with all the symphonies. It was recommended by The Absolute Sound. Need to make my way through it.

Sibelius:
Symphonies Nos. 1-7 (complete)
Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Tapiola, Op. 112
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel

Originally Posted by Toccata

The Oceanides--very powerful.

Carlos and Toccata:

Your posts are timely. I'm currently planning on adding a set of Sibelius' complete symphonies. Have either of you heard the Bournemouth set with Berglund conducting, late 70s EMI set (remastered in 2003, I believe)?

Curious to know how you'd compare the two you listed against this set.

[ehoove]

On a blustery snow squall day in Maryland:
The Tube Only Night Music
W.A. Mozart
A Little Night Music KV 525
Divertimento KV 136
Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra
Wojciech Rajski Conducting
Tacet Tube Only/Transistorfrei LC 07033 180 gr. (2005)
Regards,
Jim

[cma29]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

Carlos and Toccata:

Your posts are timely. I'm currently planning on adding a set of Sibelius' complete symphonies. Have either of you heard the Bournemouth set with Berglund conducting, late 70s EMI set (remastered in 2003, I believe)?

Curious to know how you'd compare the two you listed against this set.

I'm not familiar with the Bournemouth set, but the Maazel is considered a landmark Sibelius cycle along with Osmo Vänskä's Lahti Symphony Orchestra set on the BIS label. I'm also fond of Vänskä's more recent remake with the Minnesota Orchestra.

Good luck with whatever you choose, but the risk of choosing a "bad" cycle is low and the enjoyment potential high.

[Toccata]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

Carlos and Toccata:

Your posts are timely. I'm currently planning on adding a set of Sibelius' complete symphonies. Have either of you heard the Bournemouth set with Berglund conducting, late 70s EMI set (remastered in 2003, I believe)?

Curious to know how you'd compare the two you listed against this set.

Sorry, I haven't. I have read good reviews of that set, though. Another one to consider is the Segerstam on Ondine with the Helsinki Phil--superb playing and sound.

[bart]

Marin Marais - "Fantaisie Champestre
Ensemble Rebel




Fine chamber music, with less accent on the viola da gamba than in most of his other works.

[Toccata]

Symphony No.7


Goldbergs

[tima]

Originally Posted by aardvarkbark

Carlos and Toccata:

Your posts are timely. I'm currently planning on adding a set of Sibelius' complete symphonies. Have either of you heard the Bournemouth set with Berglund conducting, late 70s EMI set (remastered in 2003, I believe)?

Curious to know how you'd compare the two you listed against this set.

Colin Davis w/ London
Maazel w/ Vienna
Berglund w/ Bournemouth

From a big picture view - that is "I'm buying one Sibelius box set, which one should I buy?" - the Colin Davis set with the Boston Symphony is and has been considered something of a benchmark against which others can be judged in terms of overall consistency and quality of performance. You could say either of Davis' cycles (BSO and LSO) is a safe choice, a goldilocks choice. His cycle with the Boston Symphony is probably the one I'd pick if I could only have one. Having had it, if you like Sibelius, you'll likely want more - and that's a good thing. :-)

Out of Berglunds three(?) cycles, the one you show and his later one with the COE, both are v. good. I prefer his Bournemouth cycle mostly because I prefer a full(er) orchestra. Btw, Berglund's Kullervo is excellent - the first recording of the work - and stands the test of time though there are other good ones out there.

Maazel was young and fiery when he started his Vienna cycle for Decca. He was also brilliant. Imo, his First Symphony stands tall - the best or one of the best. His Third is also excellent as is his Sixth.

Sibeliusaurus likes Segerstam on Ondine. I have this set too. It's very good, but it wouldn't be my personal first choice, but it too is a safe choice - I doubt anyone would be disappointed with it.

von Karajan's second cycle (he did three) from the 1960's is one of my very favorites. Actually, vonK conducts 4-7 and Okko Kamu (a Finn and winner of the first von Karajan conducting prize) conducts 1-3. Kamu's 2nd is, for me, as good as it gets. von Karajan's 4th and 6th are excellent.

From a superior performance view - that is "I'm buying the or one of the best examples of each of Sibelius's symphonies, which ones should I buy?" - there are lots of good choices, but not so many that it's overwhelming. This is where one inevitably ends up after listening to box sets from multiple composers if one turns into a real fan of the composer. As you'd expect, there are lots of debates to be had on this route. And of course you don't get a consistency of sound as happens with a single orchestra.

Multiple answers disallowed. I'll throw out some of my choices, they may not be yours:
1st - Maazel with the Vienna
2nd - Kamu with the BPO
4th - Ansermet with the Suisse Romande
5th - Gibson with the LSO
6th - von Karajan with the BPO

Who/which has the best sonics on digital? I'm not the one to ask.

[bart]

Tim, I'm indeed very happy with this box:




If you like multi channel sound, and I do, especially for orchestral pieces, this is a nice set.