Mariss Jansons - Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 1, 2, 3 & 5 (2009)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Finlandia, Op. 26
02. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: I. Andante ma non troppo - Allegro energico
03. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: II. Andante ma non troppo lento
04. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: III. Scherzo (Allegro - Lento ma non troppo - Tempo primo)
05. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: IV. Finale. Quasi una fantasia (Andante - Allegro molto - Andante ma non troppo)
06. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: I. Allegro moderato
07. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: II. Andantino con moto quasi allegretto
08. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: III. Moderato - Allegro ma non tanto
09. Andante festivo for Strings and Timpani

CD2
01. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: I. Allegretto
02. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: II. Tempo andante ma rubato
03. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: III. Vivacissimo
04. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: IV. Finale (Allegro moderato)
05. 2 Pieces from Kuolema, Op. 44: I. Valse Triste (Lento)
06. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82: I. (a) Tempo molto moderato - Largamente
07. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82: I. (b) Allegro moderato - Vivace molto - Presto
08. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82: II. Andante mosso quasi allegretto
09. Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82: III. Allegro molto

So clean they squeak, and so clear they're almost invisible, these early 90s recordings of Sibelius' First, Second, Third and Fifth Symphonies with Mariss Jansons and the Oslo Philharmonic are no more than tolerable. As was true with the recordings of Tchaikovsky's symphonies by the same artists, these performances may delight listeners who prefer their Romantics dry-eyed and straight-forward. Anyone looking for the First's dark tragedy, the Second's mighty heroism, the Third's unstoppable energy, and the Fifth's overwhelming intensity, though, will not find those qualities here. Jansons' readings are well-controlled and thoroughly thought through, and the Norwegian orchestra's playing is crisp, bright, and colorful. But there is so much more to Sibelius' music, and so many recordings that deliver it, that it is hard to recommend these performances as anything more than alternative points of view, and not particularly interesting alternative points of view, either. EMI's digital sound is transparent but not especially immediate.

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