Sibelius 3rd Symphony: 'Building a Library'

[Kerrison]

On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

[UOC148]

recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? >>>

Bernstein/NYPO/Sony
Maazel/VPO is quite good also, but Lenny's is better.

[Christopher Webber]

Post by UOC148
Bernstein/NYPO/Sony
Maazel/VPO is quite good also, but Lenny's is better.

I'm very particular about the intermezzo. Only Rozhdestvensky and
Collins (amongst the performances I know) take it at a tempo fast enough
to make it sound like the beautiful and refreshing light intermezzo it
should, rather than a failed attempt at a profound slow movement.

It needs to be taken at the brisk 6/4 (3/2) Sibelius marked, not as a
lugubrious six in a bar adagio. "Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto"
seems clear enough to me, but conductors seem to wilfully argue this
means something slower than it actually does.

Rant over.

[UOC148]

Post by Christopher Webber
I'm very particular about the intermezzo. Only Rozhdestvensky and
Collins (amongst the performances I know) take it at a tempo fast enough
to make it sound like the beautiful and refreshing light intermezzo it
should, rather than a failed attempt at a profound slow movement.>>

Bernstein gets a nice "swing" to it...also he brings out the bass line, which Sibelius cleverly alters and develops - the triplets, duplets, the hemiolas, etc. it goes thru lots of transformations.

Bernstein also gets the final chorale right too - he brings out the passing tones in the celli [first time it appears], and trombone II at the conclusion. Nice touch, one of those details in a score that beg for attention.

[Christopher Webber]

Post by UOC148
Bernstein gets a nice "swing" to it...also he brings out the bass line, which Sibelius cleverly alters and develops - the triplets, duplets, the hemiolas, etc. it goes thru lots of transformations.
Bernstein also gets the final chorale right too - he brings out the passing tones in the celli [first time it appears], and trombone II at the conclusion. Nice touch, one of those details in a score that beg for attention.

I agree with you about the chorale, and his way with the detail of the
scoring; and you are quite right to point out that he's pretty sprightly
in the Intermezzo, which does have a lovely lilt to it. Listening to him
again just now in the light of your post, I rather think he can gain
admission to my exclusive club of conductors who Get It Right!

My only (minor) doubts centre on some rhythmically imprecise
block-building early in the opening movement - but overall this is a
very classy performance indeed.

[Bozo]

3,5,6,7 my favs, my recordings being Ehrlings complete set with the Stockholm Orchestra from 1952, Bernstein / VPO on DGG of 5 and 7 , Karajan/BPO in 1 and 6 on EMI I believe, and Ormandy/PO in 2. I have another stand-alone 4th, but can't recall the details at the moment.

Ehrling gives powerful readings of the first and last movs. of # 3, and while perhaps slower than you would prefer in the Andantino , he does not try to make it a profound slow mov. Quite agree, Sibelius announces from the very first bars of the opening of 3 that Sibelius is on a new path from 1 and 2.

[Kerrison]

Post by Christopher Webber

Post by UOC148
Bernstein/NYPO/Sony
Maazel/VPO is quite good also, but Lenny's is better.

I'm very particular about the intermezzo. Only Rozhdestvensky and
Collins (amongst the performances I know) take it at a tempo fast enough
to make it sound like the beautiful and refreshing light intermezzo it
should, rather than a failed attempt at a profound slow movement.
It needs to be taken at the brisk 6/4 (3/2) Sibelius marked, not as a
lugubrious six in a bar adagio. "Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto"
seems clear enough to me, but conductors seem to wilfully argue this
means something slower than it actually does.
Rant over.

Well, as you'll doubtless have heard, the middle movement is indeed a "slow movement" (Osborne's own words) according to the printed metronome marking. Consequently he didn't care for the versions with faster tempos that went by the "Andantino con moto" indication. His final choice was Colin Davis and the Boston SO.

[Christopher Webber]

Post by Kerrison
Well, as you'll doubtless have heard, the middle movement is indeed a "slow movement" (Osborne's own words) according to the printed metronome marking.

What he omitted to say, though, was that the provenance of the metronome
marking itself (crotchet=116) is hotly disputed! Is it Sibelius's own,
or is it Kajanus's?

In any case, Bernstein (who is, as this thread has brought to our
attention, one of the few "speed merchants" in this movement) takes it
at just that speed.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If you want to balance the
complex light-and-shades of the two outer movements, the *last* thing
you want - as Mr Osborne, to be quite fair to him, said very clearly
this morning - is a "slow movement".

Personally I ditched the Davis/Boston set during my last cull. For me,
it's clinical in the final analysis - not a lot wrong (except for the
tempo of that 2nd movement) but precious little right either.

Oh dear me, no. I'll be sticking with Collins and Bernstein, with
Rozhdestvensky for a refreshing change of ambience, Kamu for (then)
youthful daring and Berglund (Bournemouth) for a sober "grounding" from
time to time.

[Randy Lane]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

Kamu/HRSO/Dg is my go-to recording of the 3rd

[Norman Schwartz]

Post by Randy Lane

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what
would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the
past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy,
Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded
several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from
their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an
answer as to why?

Kamu/HRSO/Dg is my go-to recording of the 3rd

It's easiest for me to find the Blomstedt/San Francisco set in my collection
so that's the one I'd go to first, perhaps while listening to it I'd look
for others, maybe not.

[Alex Brown]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a
personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony.

I remember Building a Library doing this in the 80s. The pick then was Alexander Gibson/SNO. Somehow I don't think it'll be the same this time!

No. 3 is probably missing from some conductors' repertoire because it's a difficult-to-pull-off piece which is perhaps weaker than Sibelius's other symphonies.

I'd pick Boston SO/Davis. For me, Davis really gets the necessary traction (in this recording) to bring the climaxes off properly.

What will Richard Osborne pick? He's a critic with fine taste (if sometimes annoying writing style), so - maybe he'll pick Boston SO/Davis too ;-)

- Alex.

[Christopher Webber]

Post by Alex Brown
No. 3 is probably missing from some conductors' repertoire because it's a difficult-to-pull-off piece which is perhaps weaker than Sibelius's other symphonies.

Very true as to the former, but I profoundly disagree as to the latter
(see my earlier mail as to why I believe most conductors manage to foul
it up structurally). It is more original than the first two, a
triumphant "breakthrough" piece in which the composer discovers his most
mature style.

The 3rd remains one of my favourite and most often revisited Sibelius
symphonies, along with the 6th. I live in hope that more conductors will
manage to get it right!

[Alan Cooper]

Post by Christopher Webber

Post by Alex Brown
No. 3 is probably missing from some conductors' repertoire because
it's a difficult-to-pull-off piece which is perhaps weaker than
Sibelius's other symphonies.

Very true as to the former, but I profoundly disagree as to the latter
(see my earlier mail as to why I believe most conductors manage to
foul it up structurally). It is more original than the first two, a
triumphant "breakthrough" piece in which the composer discovers his
most mature style.
The 3rd remains one of my favourite and most often revisited Sibelius
symphonies, along with the 6th. I live in hope that more conductors
will manage to get it right!

I agree. ##3, 6, and 7 are my favorites. Concerning #3, I'd like to put
in a word for Saraste/RCA, which is op but available used:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000E6LQ/ .

AC

[Alex Brown]

Post by Alex Brown
What will Richard Osborne pick? He's a critic with fine taste (if sometimes annoying writing style), so - maybe he'll pick Boston SO/Davis too ;-)

O my prophetic soul!

The Bernstein extract sounded interesting.

- Alex.

[Frank Berger]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would
be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past
who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky,
Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius
symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies?
Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

I seem to recall my "favorites" being Kondrashin on Globe and Mravinsky
on Altus. You didn't think I would recommend anything easily available,
did you?

[Sol L. Siegel]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers
a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony."
If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your
recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've
championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski,
Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies,
have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to
that short list and pose an answer as to why?

Ormandy went on the record (no pun intended) that he didn't understand
the 3rd or 6th.

I like it a lot myself. Berglund/Helsinki and Vanska/Lahti are my
current versions.

- Sol L. Siegel, Philadelphia, PA USA

[Gerard]

"Sol L. Siegel" wrote in message news:***@130.133.4.11...

Ormandy went on the record (no pun intended) that he didn't understand
the 3rd or 6th.

I like it a lot myself. Berglund/Helsinki and Vanska/Lahti are my
current versions.

=====================

Wasn't it Karajan who said that he did not understand the 3rd?
So Ormandy too? Did he ever conduct it?

Anyone familiar with Mustonen's recording of the 3rd?

[Ray Hall]

Post by Gerard
Wasn't it Karajan who said that he did not understand the 3rd?
So Ormandy too? Did he ever conduct it?
Anyone familiar with Mustonen's recording of the 3rd?

I find the 3rd the most difficult to understand, and yet, find the
opening movement so full of open-aired wonder, I can't resist the work.
Even so, I cannot really fathom how the other movements quite fit in.

Berglund/Bournemouth, and Maazel/VPO are excellent.

As for the other symphonies, then I'll take the 4th and 7th as my
favourites. Heck, they are all good.

Ray Hall, Taree

[Bozo]

Post by Ray Hall
I find the 3rd the most difficult to understand, and yet, find the
opening movement so full of open-aired wonder

Yes, from the very first bar.

[Bozo]

Post by Ray Hall
I find the 3rd the most difficult to understand, and yet, find the

Perhaps throwing off the chains of the past in the first mov., a brief nostalgic look-back in the second, then a reaffirmation, if a bit more sober than in the first, of a forward march into the future ?

[MELMOTH]

Ce cher mammifère du nom de Kerrison nous susurrait, le mercredi
18/09/2013, dans nos oreilles grandes ouvertes mais un peu sales tout
de même, et dans le message

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would
be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past
who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky,
Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius
symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies?
Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

*Barbirolli*
*Kajanus*
*Beecham*

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

Ce cher mammifère du nom de Kerrison nous susurrait, le mercredi 18/09/2013, dans nos oreilles grandes ouvertes mais un peu sales tout de même, et dans le message >, les doux mélismes suivants : > On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne > "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd > Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would > be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past > who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, > Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius > symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? > Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why? *Barbirolli* *Kajanus* *Beecham* -- Car avec beaucoup de science, il y a beaucoup de chagrin ; et celui qui accroît sa science accroît sa douleur. [Ecclésiaste, 1-18] MELMOTH - souffrant

Kajanus was not one of the conductors who avoided the 3rd; he made the first recording of it in 1932.

Mark O-T

[D***@aol.com]

Post by Mark Obert-Thorn

Ce cher mammifère du nom de Kerrison nous susurrait, le mercredi 18/09/2013, dans nos oreilles grandes ouvertes mais un peu sales tout de même, et dans le message >, les doux mélismes suivants : > On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne > "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd > Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would > be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past > who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, > Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius > symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? > Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why? *Barbirolli* *Kajanus* *Beecham* -- Car avec beaucoup de science, il y a beaucoup de chagrin ; et celui qui accroît sa science accroît sa douleur. [Ecclésiaste, 1-18] MELMOTH - souffrant

Kajanus was not one of the conductors who avoided the 3rd; he made the first recording of it in 1932.
Mark O-T

And Barbirolli recorded no. 3 for EMI with the Halle Orchestra in 1969.

Don Tait

[Mike]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation?

The pastoralish #3 is my favorite Sibelius symphony. The 1960s Watanabe/Tokyo Philharmonic recording of it on Epic LP (available briefly in the 1990s on an obscure CD label) is my favorite recording of it. (Watanabe re-recorded the Sibelius symphonies for DDD CDs in the 1990s but I don't think they were released in the US, or maybe not outside Japan. Fortunately, a friend there got me a set).

[RVG]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what
would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the
past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy,
Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded
several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their
discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as
to why?

Askenazy. His Sibelius cycle also includes the best IMO recording of
"Luonnotar" ever, with Elisabeth Söderström.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00008CLIG

[Gerard]

"RVG" wrote in message news:l1jrlu$6iq$***@blueduskconspiracy.eternal-september.org...


Askenazy. His Sibelius cycle

==================

Do you prefer his first cycle (or his first recording of the 3rd symphony)
to his second?

[RVG]

Post by RVG
Askenazy. His Sibelius cycle
Do you prefer his first cycle (or his first recording of the 3rd
symphony) to his second?

I've actually discovered Sibelius with Ashkenazy, on CDs borrowed at my
local public library in the early 90s. Since then I've heard Berglund,
Järvi and Bernstein, but I'm not sure I'll be partial with Ashkenazy
because he was the reason on the first "encounter" with the symphonic
works of Sibelius.

Unlike Richard Strauss, that I discovered with Karajan but learned to
enjoy more under the wand of Boehm, Reiner and Kempe, I still have a
fondness to Ashkenazy's cycle. And I still have to hear the "English
school" with Beecham and Davis.

And I've never heard of a second cycle, so I'll have to check. ;)

[Gerard]

"RVG" wrote in message news:l1m24p$7vf$***@blueduskconspiracy.eternal-september.org...


And I've never heard of a second cycle, so I'll have to check. ;)

========================

Here are some reviews of his second cycle:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2008/may08/sibelius_exton.htm

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-14704/?search=1

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-14793/?search=1

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-14794/?search=1

I cannnot compare this second cycle with his first one. But I've enjoyed his
second cycle very much. Not only because of the splendid sound. To me it
seems to be a very consistent set of recordings - with great quality.

[RVG]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would
be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past
who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky,
Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius
symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies?
Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

Ashkenazy. His Sibelius cycle also includes the best IMO recording of
"Luonnotar" ever, with Elisabeth Söderström.

http://youtu.be/9k5iAEwF5sw

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00008CLIG

[M forever]

Post by RVG

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne
"offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd
Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would
be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past
who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky,
Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius
symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies?
Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

Ashkenazy. His Sibelius cycle also includes the best IMO recording of
"Luonnotar" ever, with Elisabeth Söderström.

As good as that one is, there is one which I find even better than that, Häggander with Panula conducting, on BIS.

[Gustav Bruckner]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

I like the recording by Segerstam and the Danish National Radio Symphony. He seems to make the finale less jarring and more homogenous with the rest of the symphony then other recordings of it that I've heard. To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

[Randy Lane]

Post by Gustav Bruckner

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

I like the recording by Segerstam and the Danish National Radio Symphony. He seems to make the finale less jarring and more homogenous with the rest of the symphony then other recordings of it that I've heard. To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Have you heard Segerstam's newer recording on Ondine with the Helsinki RSO?

[Peter H.]

Post by Randy Lane
Have you heard Segerstam's newer recording on Ondine with the Helsinki RSO?

I believe you mean the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

[Gustav Bruckner]

Post by Randy Lane
Have you heard Segerstam's newer recording on Ondine with the Helsinki RSO?

No, I haven't. Thanks for the tip.

[RVG]

Post by Gustav Bruckner
To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Like Mahler's 7th..?

[Gustav Bruckner]

Post by RVG

Post by Gustav Bruckner
To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Like Mahler's 7th..?

No. To me, Mahler's 7th is a masterpiece from start to finish.

[Frank Berger]

Post by Gustav Bruckner

Post by RVG

Post by Gustav Bruckner
To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Like Mahler's 7th..?

No. To me, Mahler's 7th is a masterpiece from start to finish.

Listened tonight to Kondrashin's 3 and 5 on Globe. I was surprised to
find both performances somewhat rushed and not very intense.

[Bozo]

Post by Gustav Bruckner
To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Same feeling about the Sibelius 4th ?

[Gustav Bruckner]

Post by Bozo

Post by Gustav Bruckner
To me, the Sibelius 3rd is a masterpiece in everything but finale.

Same feeling about the Sibelius 4th ?

No. I like the first two movements of the 3rd better then anything in the 4th, although the dark, more austere 4th is very good as well. It just doesn't strike me as a masterpiece. I guess I haven't heard it often enough to really judge, though. It's an unusual piece for Sibelius, though.

[Bozo]

No. I like the first two movements of the 3rd better then anything in the 4th,.... It just doesn't strike me >as a masterpiece.

I agree.

[gggg gggg]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

(Recent Youtube upload):

Repertoire: The BEST Sibelius Third Symphony

[Andy Evans]

I'm not sure why this is being revived, but it caused me to listen to a few performances. As usual I like Segerstam best. I usually listen to his Danish versions, but I enjoyed a live YT version with the Turku Po.

Bernstein doesn't understand this music at all. His recording sounds like a Broadway musical. Horrible. Of the better versions Berglund/Helsinki is quite nice.

[Dan Koren]

Post by Andy Evans
I'm not sure why this is being revived, but it
caused me to listen to a few performances.
As usual I like Segerstam best. I usually
listen to his Danish versions, but I enjoyed
a live YT version with the Turku Po.
Bernstein doesn't understand this music at
all. His recording sounds like a Broadway
musical. Horrible. Of the better versions
Berglund/Helsinki is quite nice.

What do you think of Collins?

dk

[Dan Koren]

Post by Dan Koren

Post by Andy Evans
I'm not sure why this is being revived, but it
caused me to listen to a few performances.
As usual I like Segerstam best. I usually
listen to his Danish versions, but I enjoyed
a live YT version with the Turku Po.
Bernstein doesn't understand this music at
all. His recording sounds like a Broadway
musical. Horrible. Of the better versions
Berglund/Helsinki is quite nice.

What do you think of Collins?
http://youtu.be/0GsOCmKgXbY

The complete Collins cycle is here:

dk

[Andy Evans]

Post by Dan Koren
What do you think of Collins?

http://youtu.be/0GsOCmKgXbY >> dk

It's a bit over-emphatic, accents too strong. This is a problem with most of the conductors - they try to big up the energy. But for me this just doesn't work in Sibelius. Sibelius uses long-winded melodic ideas that need to be paced quite evenly to achieve the sense of space in the music. Chopping the music up with emphatic accents or bulges in dynamics just destroys it for me. Hear how Segerstam lets the music breath and unfold. The interplay between the strings and winds/brass is where a lot of the interest lies in Sibelius, and this works best when the strings are absolutely equal partners, not highlighted in any kind of romantic way.

[Chris J.]

Post by Andy Evans
Of the better versions Berglund/Helsinki is
quite nice.

Quite nice? Not very good or excellent?
Have you heard San Francisco/Blomstedt and/or Iceland/Sakari?

Chris

[Alex Brown]

Post by Chris J.

Post by Andy Evans
Of the better versions Berglund/Helsinki is
quite nice.

Quite nice? Not very good or excellent?
Have you heard San Francisco/Blomstedt and/or Iceland/Sakari?
Chris

I think the Berglund/Helsinki remake of #3 is better than his
Bournemouth recording (the only instance of this for his Sibelius?)

Others I've particularly enjoyed:

Boston/Davis (the BBC "Building a library" choice in this thread)
Scottish NO/Gibson (the BBC "Building a library" choice in the 1990s)
Gothenburg/Jarvi

For all the reputation this symphony has for being difficult, it's done
rather well on record.

Mr Hurwitz did a video on this symphony recently, and picked
Maazel/Pittsburg, which certainly builds up some mighty torque at the
very close. I was less convinced by what preceded that though, as being
afflicted by the stodge that characterizes that cycle generally.

[gggg gggg]

Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

(Upcoming radio program):

https://www.wfmt.com/2022/05/15/rare-yevgeny-mravinsky-recordings-3

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Post by Kerrison
On Saturday morning's BBC Radio 3 'CD Review', Richard Osborne "offers a personal recommendation from recordings of Sibelius's 3rd Symphony." If you were sitting in front of the microphone, what would be your recommendation? Also, how many of the 'greats' of the past who've championed Sibelius on disc, such as Ormandy, Koussevitzky, Stokowski, Beecham and Karajan, all of whom recorded several Sibelius symphonies, have No. 3 noticeably missing from their discographies? Can you add to that short list and pose an answer as to why?

(2023 Y. upload):

"Great Recordings: Sibelius Symphony No. 3 - why its worth 30 minutes of your time"