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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
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Disc 1:
Disc 2:
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a double CD of orchestral works by Grieg and Sibelius - one of the CD's is devoted to Grieg, the other to Sibelius. The recordings span a period from the mid 1960's to the early 1980's. However, they do not sound dated at all. The Sibelius performances have been compared (by people more knowledgable than me) to those of other great Sibelius interpreters such as Sir Thomas Beecham.
The Grieg CD contains some familiar pieces, all of which I had on vinyl years ago and never replaced until now, so this was a good opportunity to do so. I don't think I've heard any better performances or recordings than these.
But the Sibelius CD was of more interest to me. Anyone wanting to assemble a collection of Sibelius orchestral works is likely, unless they splash out on a 'complete works' boxed set, to wind up with a few recordings of 'Finlandia', and more than one of certain other favourites such as 'Valse Triste'. This has happened to me. I wanted Karajan's recording of 'Pelleas & Melisande', and incidentally ended up with recordings of various other peices that were already in my collection. Poor value for money? Not at all. The Karajan/Belrin Philharmonic recordings are so much better than (or at least sufficiently different from) other recordings as to make them worth having. (Yes, I know you've already got 'Finlandia', but this one is worth having as well; it really is that good. It begins a little slowly, but soon picks up pace, and is played with great passion.)
A lot of the pieces on this collection - notably 'Ase's Death', 'The Swan of Tuonela' and 'At the Castle Gate' - are favourites because of their sonorous string harmonies. Karajan and the Berlin Phil make the most of these. So sensuous is their string playing that even a piece as frighteningly austere as Tapiola comes across here as quite lush and romantic. This is not to say that the sound is at all mushy. All of the parts are clear and well separated.
If you already have recordings of some of these pieces you may think that you don't need these as well. Perhaps, but if you do invest in this double CD you may find that it outshines the others and quickly becomes a favourite. If you have yet to begin a collection of this kind of music, then you could do no better than to begin here.
The Grieg CD contains some familiar pieces, all of which I had on vinyl years ago and never replaced until now, so this was a good opportunity to do so. I don't think I've heard any better performances or recordings than these.
But the Sibelius CD was of more interest to me. Anyone wanting to assemble a collection of Sibelius orchestral works is likely, unless they splash out on a 'complete works' boxed set, to wind up with a few recordings of 'Finlandia', and more than one of certain other favourites such as 'Valse Triste'. This has happened to me. I wanted Karajan's recording of 'Pelleas & Melisande', and incidentally ended up with recordings of various other peices that were already in my collection. Poor value for money? Not at all. The Karajan/Belrin Philharmonic recordings are so much better than (or at least sufficiently different from) other recordings as to make them worth having. (Yes, I know you've already got 'Finlandia', but this one is worth having as well; it really is that good. It begins a little slowly, but soon picks up pace, and is played with great passion.)
A lot of the pieces on this collection - notably 'Ase's Death', 'The Swan of Tuonela' and 'At the Castle Gate' - are favourites because of their sonorous string harmonies. Karajan and the Berlin Phil make the most of these. So sensuous is their string playing that even a piece as frighteningly austere as Tapiola comes across here as quite lush and romantic. This is not to say that the sound is at all mushy. All of the parts are clear and well separated.
If you already have recordings of some of these pieces you may think that you don't need these as well. Perhaps, but if you do invest in this double CD you may find that it outshines the others and quickly becomes a favourite. If you have yet to begin a collection of this kind of music, then you could do no better than to begin here.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another fine offering from DG. Fantastic value at the price. Memorable music which will absord you and allow the imagination to cunjure up various images. You dont need to be a critic to appreciate this excellent CD.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
....listen to anyone who says this is disappointing. how can one!
I just listened to this on my new headphones and I think it is absolutely beautiful, compelling and simply sublime!
I am not an expert and Im sure there are other good and very good recordings but that doesn't make this any less grant!
the only purpose of the these 2 CDs is for us to enjoy so let us do exactly that and Im sure in another 100 years people will still be in awe of these pieces of utter beauty!
I just listened to this on my new headphones and I think it is absolutely beautiful, compelling and simply sublime!
I am not an expert and Im sure there are other good and very good recordings but that doesn't make this any less grant!
the only purpose of the these 2 CDs is for us to enjoy so let us do exactly that and Im sure in another 100 years people will still be in awe of these pieces of utter beauty!
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