Next in the pile, on vinyl.

Arrived today!

On CD:-

Now this is how Kullervo should sound... brilliant!

EJ

Dear EJ,

What do you think of Paavo Berglund's recording of Kulervo?

I admire Berglund's Sibelius Symphonic recordings, but have never had the chance to listen to his Kulervo recording. EMI have re-released it in the last two months, but sadly tied to about ten CDs of other music that has no interest for me in terms of buying recordings.

I'd get the set for the Kulervo alone, if it is superb.

ATB from George

This is getting played a lot at the moment, on vinyl.

Then..

MFSL vinyl.

Robbie Fowler???????????

Hi George,

Sorry, I've never heard Berglund's pioneering recording either - snippets on the web sound promising but I am not fully convinced by Berglund's detached, exacting way with Sibelius in general (his first symphony sounds like second rate Tchaikovsky I'm afraid, but worse are the second and third, which hang fire, and his fourth, an amazing work that invades Schubert's troubled world, never dives below the surface). I'm hugely impressed by the work of recent incumbents Vänskä and Segerstam, who prioritize the 'fuzzy' (mood-painting) Sibelius and at the same time make the works project huge energies. Colin Davis has his priorities right, and on occasion is my favorite - but when the music calls for raw power, he invariably forfeits. It's good to have choice! 

Cheers,

EJ

Excellent choice

Now Try This

I wish I could. I do have a copy somewhere, but my record collection is so disorganised, no idea where it is.

I must find it, if I recall correctly I like it more than Wonderful Life.

There is some of his stuff on Spotify  under the name of  Colin Vearnecombe, But the Comedy Album is not one of them! This maybe of interest    http://www.colinvearncombe.com/

Easy, Ewe....

Thanks for the link.

It's useful knowing his real name, searching the internet for BLACK, brings up about half a trillion hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwtKMaBpTGA

Recorded in 1994.

Dear Ej,

To give you a clue how much I love the Symphonies of Sibelius, here is a short list of the recordings I have. I am not going to order them in favourite first, but you will find a variety of styles, but all are occasionally wildly passionate. Colin Davies seems to miss the passionate clinch in this music in my view, even in the Boston Symphony Orchestra recordings, even though these get tremendous reviews. I once did own this venerable Philips set, before getting fed up with it.

Complete Cycles: John Barbirolli, Paavo Berglund, Anthony Collins.

Symphonies 1, 2, 3 and 5: Robert Kajanus

Symphonies 4, 6 and 7: Thomas Beecham

Symphony No. 7: Adrian Boult.

I would think that the most cerebral of these are the Berglund recordings, but they have a cumulative power and sense of cumulative tempo that compels, and in the Third Symphony actually equals the amazing performance that Kajanus recorded in about 1932 - both have slower tempi than average, to considerable advantage given the long term power that is generated - just a personal view though. I suppose my favourite individual performances are:

Symphony No One, Kajanus, and then Collins.

Two, Barbirolli and Kajanus equally

Three Kajanus,and then very close, Berglund

Four, Beecham, and very close Barbirolli

Five, Barbirolli

Six, Barbirolli,and very close Beecham

Seven, [easy favourite performance] Boult, and then second [by a fair margin] Collins.

As you will see the ancient Kajanus recordings are very much my overall favourites, but the Fifth suffers from terrible orchestral ensemble. I am guessing that the sessions for this were too short, before the aged conductor had to return to Finland after his short time with the London Symphony Orchestra for EMI on both English Columbia and HMV in different Symphonies!

I don't think any of the Berglund recordings are actual favourites [overall] for any of them,and yet, I listen to all of these recordings, unlike the Anthony Collins, where the Symphonies Two and Three in particular miss the point somewhat. Too hyped in the Second and too fast in the Third.

I find that if I want a steady speed but still fantastically passionate performance, say in the Second or Fifth, then Barbirolli is an immensely enjoyable conductor, but again. I listen to all of his cycle over time.

I used to also have the famous Boston Symphony recordings under Serge Kousevitsky of The Second and the Fifth, but grew tired of them eventually. Very fine playing, but lacking the dynamism of Kajanus for example - not merely a question of playing loud and soft, but the dynamism in the phrase quite as much. Dynamism and expressive power is not equal to high velocity in Sibelius, and in this respect I still get a tremendous kick out of Paavo Berglund's performances.

Perhaps - as I get on so well with Berglund's Sibelius, I should take a punt on his Kulervo!

I hope that post was not too boring, dear EJ!

ATB from George

Relayer [Original Recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Yes | Format: SACD

From This Box Set.

Suzanne Vega. Solitude Standing on vinyl.

Foghat. Fool for the City. Original vinyl from 1975.

Fleetwood Mac. Tusk. On vinyl from 1979.

I remember all the anticipation and hype and expense surrounding this release. A good LP but I don't think it could ever have lived up to the expectations.