Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6; Karelia Suite
Our Price: $20.00
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.99 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Composer: Jean SibeliusConductor: Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2002-02-12
Music Label: EMI Classics
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- I. Andante, Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Energico
- II. Andante (Ma Non Troppo Lento)
- III. Scherzo (Allegro)
- IV. Finale (Quasi Una Fantasia - Andante - Allegro Molto)
- I. Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio
- II. Allegro Molto Vivace
- III. Il Tempo Largo
- IV. Allegro
- I. Intermezzo
- II. Ballade
- III. Alla Marcia
- I. Tempo Molto Moderato - Largamente - Allegro Moderato
- II. Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto
- III. Allegro Molto - Largamente Assai
- I. Allegro Molto Moderato
- II. Allegretto Moderato
- III. Poco Vivace
- IV. Allegro Molto
Free Music Notes for Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6; Karelia Suite
Free Music Review: World-class Sibelius from Karajan/Berlin
Hit: 5 Stars
These recordings make a welcome reappearance on EMI, recompiled in EMIs Double forte series, and in new remasterings. Missing is Karajan's contemporaneous digital remake of Sym 2 - which is a bit strange as Sym 2 is the work best known to the public, at least on this side of the pond.
Karajan's Sibelius is often criticized for being too Germanic, too lush and too smoothed over. Those criticisms are given the lie in these remarkably forceful recordings. Yes - Karajan does not bring to the fore the many string ostinato patterns that provide the motor energy in these works, but if you listen for such passage work, you will hear it. That Karajan chooses not to emphasize the trees for the forest is an interpretive decision, nothing more, nothing less. Listen closely and one will hear why Sibelius himself was such a fan of Karajan's earlier recordings with The Philharmonia. There's a perfect balance between all choirs of the orchestra. Listen also for those points where Karajan (and Sibelius) "turn over" a theme or melody from one section of the orchestra to another. Here, Karajan is unmatched in the seamless transition in "instrumental counterpoint" (as we used to say at music school).
Compared to Karajan's much-lauded DG recordings for Syms 4-7, I find these later EMI recordings more compelling, at least as far as 4 & 5 go. The EMI recordings provide more warmth than their DG counterparts and prove once again that the guys at EMI knew how to record an orchestra (whereas the guys at DG generally failed to keep any consistency in portraying the Berlin Phil under Karajan in a realistic light). Having experienced the Berlin Phil under Karajan at Carnegie Hall, I can safely say that EMI more faithfully captured the sound that I heard in live performance than did DG. The only "problem" with these EMI recordings is that 1) Karajan didn't bother to redo Sym 7, and 2) he never performed or recorded Sym 3. Considering that Karajan eventually filled in the blanks on complete cycles of the symphonies of Schubert, Bruckner and Tchaikovsky (sans Manfred), it's a shame that he never did the same with Sibelius. Oh well.
I can recommend these recordings wholeheartedly to diehard fans of Sibelius and newcomers as well. There is a virulent anti-Karajan lobby out there that has accomplished nothing much - except to keep a few listeners here and there away from some pretty great recordings. Forget the naysayers and give a listen for yourself. I think you'll be favorably impressed with both the music making and the recorded sound on these valuable reissues.
Classical Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Just music...not to be missed.
Marko Ylonen, Olli Mustonen - Shchedrin: Cello Concerto, Seagull Suite / Mustonen, Helsinki Philharmonic OrchestraRelease date: 2001-02-13; Music CD
Best price: $17.37
Price in other shops:
Francois Le Roux - Chausson - Po?me ? Po?me de l'amour et de la mer ? Symphonie / Juillet ? Le Loux ? Montreal SO ? DutoitRelease date: 2000-05-09; Music CD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
French & English SongsRelease date: 2002-05-07; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6; Karelia SuiteRelease date: 2002-02-12; Music CD
Best price: $19.44
Peteris Vasks: Message - Cantabile (1979); Cor anglais Concerto (1989); Message (1982); Musica dolorosa (1983); Lauda (1986)Release date: 1995-03-14; Music CD
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Faure: Requiem and Franck: Symphony in D MinorRelease date: 2002-06-11; Music CD
Best price: $13.95
Price in other shops:
Kancheli: Magnum IgnotumRelease date: 2000-10-31; Music CD
Best price: $14.12
Price in other shops:
El Dorado/ Black gondolaRelease date: 1996-10-15; Music CD
Best price: $12.06
Price in other shops:
Andre Previn: Great Pianists Of The 20th Century (Music Of Mozart, Poulenc, Shostakovich, Gershwin)Release date: 1999-01-12; Music CD
Best price: $59.00
Songs: Magdalena KozenaRelease date: 2004-07-13; Music CD
Best price: $5.77
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Gustav Mahler: Symphonie No. 1Release date: 1992-01-16; Music CD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies (Collectors Edition)Release date: 2004-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $19.89
Price in other shops:
Wagner: Gala (Tannha?ser, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger von N?rnberg, Die Walk?re)Release date: 1994-03-15; Music CD
Best price: $16.99
Herbert von Karajan in Rehearsal and PerformanceRelease date: 2006-08-29; DVD
Best price: $18.23
Price in other shops:
Strauss: Four Last Songs/ 12 Orchestral SongsRelease date: 1999-01-12; Music CD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Ivan Moravec Plays Debussy & ChopinRelease date: 1994-08-22; Music CD
Best price: $6.26
Price in other shops:
Sibelius: Finlandia; En Saga; Valse triste; Karelia Suite; The Swan of TuonelaRelease date: 2005-09-13; Music CD
Best price: $7.97
Price in other shops:
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2; En SagaRelease date: 2006-03-21; Music CD
Best price: $3.32
Price in other shops: