What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.IX)

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

This is my album of 2013 by a long way, there is not a bad track on it....... Tony2011  have you listened to it yet?

 Graham

This is my album of 2013 by a long way, there is not a bad track on it....... Tony2011  have you listened to it yet?

 Graham

The Groundhogs-Thank Christ For The Bomb vinyl

Hi, Graham. I have only seen a couple of videos but have not listened to their latest offering. I do have their first album but have never been much into them but I do see a lot of members have played and recommended it tthough. I'll try to get hold of a copy before commiting to buying the album.

Tony

Hi Tony.

The new AM album is nothing like their 1st.  It is a far more mature album,  it is a mixture of thumping bass notes, intricate vocal layering and fabulously acute wordsmithery. I think it shows the Monkeys at the peak of their powers. Could be the album of the decade! IMO

Graham.