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Sibelius Edition - Barbirolli
 
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Sibelius Edition - Barbirolli [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Jean Sibelius (Composer), Sir John Barbirolli (Conductor), Hallé Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
Price: £23.00 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this with Klaus Tennstedt - The Great EMI Recordings ~ Klaus Tennstedt Audio CD £14.99

Sibelius Edition - Barbirolli + Klaus Tennstedt - The Great EMI Recordings
Price For Both: £37.99

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Product details

  • Orchestra: Hallé Orchestra
  • Conductor: Sir John Barbirolli
  • Composer: Jean Sibelius
  • Audio CD (21 Feb 2000)
  • SPARS Code: DDD
  • Number of Discs: 5
  • Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
  • Label: EMI
  • ASIN: B00003ZKRM
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 29,021 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Disc: 1
1. Finlandia - Symphonic Poem Op. 26 (2000 Digital Remaster)
2. I. Intermezzo
3. II. Ballade
4. III. Alla marcia
See all 8 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. I. Andante, ma non troppo - Allegro energico
2. II. Andante (ma non troppo lento)
3. III. Scherzo (Allegro - Lento (ma non troppo) - Tempo I)
4. IV. Finale: Quasi una fantasia (Andante - Allegro molto)
See all 8 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. I. Allegretto
2. II. Tempo andante, ma rubato
3. III. Vivacissimo
4. IV. Finale (Allegro moderato)
See all 7 tracks on this disc
Disc: 4
1. I. Tempo molto moderato - Allegro moderato - Presto
2. II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
3. III. Allegro molto - Un pochettino largamente
4. 1. At the Castle Gate from Pelléas et Mélisande - Incidental music Op. 46 (Suite) (2000 Digital Remaster)
See all 11 tracks on this disc
Disc: 5
1. 1. All' overtura from Scènes historiques I - Suite Op. 25 (2000 Digital Remaster)
2. 1. The Hunt from Scènes historiques II - Suite Op. 66 (2000 Digital Remaster)
3. 2. Scena from Scènes historiques I - Suite Op. 25 (2000 Digital Remaster)
4. 1. The Lover
See all 11 tracks on this disc

Product Description

CD Description

This Sibelius edition is a glowing testiment to the Halle Orchestra at the height of its powers under the baton of the masterful Sir John Barbirolli. Now digitally remastered and re- released, it comprehensively covers Sibelius's seven symphonies as well as favourites such as Finlandia, Karelia Suite, Valse triste and Pohjola's Daughter. The power of the brass and precision playing of the woodwind are wondrous to behold and, although there are five lengthy CDs-worth of music to listen to, large portions - such as Finlandia and the second movement of the First Symphony - are incredibly moving, such is the beauty of the performance. There are moments when the intensity does evaporate, most notably in the rather dirge-like Fourth Symphony, but over all this is undoubtedly a classic which deserved the digital brush-up.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 83 people found the following review helpful
THE MASTER SYMPHONIST 28 Sep 2001
Format:Audio CD
What can I say? What can I add to the peaens of praise already written??

Except this: I too grew up with Barbirolli's Sibelius. I will never, ever forget 'getting into' the Fifth Symphony for the very first time. This recording could well be the definitive version of this 'granite slab' of music - the word 'symphony' is almost inadequate. It is breathless, rapt, invigorating...alive.

One loves Sibelius - emotionally - for those unmatched moments in his works when your pulse quickens and your heart almost stops beating: the closing bars of both the 1st and 3rd movements of the Fifth Symphony; the bars where, in the achingly personal slow movement of the icy Fourth Symphony, Sibelius finally allows the mournful main theme to thaw out, flow from its imprisonment in the woodwind and then swell out, into the full orchestra - but all too briefly; the breathless sense of rising anticipation that one hears during the busy recapitulation in the opening movement of the Third (said by Sibelius to represent fog rolling in from the English Channel); also the powerful, rousing, climactic ending to the Third's brassy finale; the whole of the sublime Sixth Symphony, which one loves as one loves a shy friend; and the opening of the Seventh, as well as the choral-like ending, with its rapt sense of otherworldiness, that carries its spirit into realms that are beyond mere music. Sibelius fans will know exactly what I mean.

The Seventh Symphony could well rate as the second-greatest musical work of the 20th century. First place: La Mer.

When it comes to Sibelius, Barbirolli is your only man. The Halle Orchestra is the 'instrument' he plays, with utter virtuosity.

A love affair with this composer, this conductor and this orchestra is one that age will never dim.

Vive Sibelius!

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55 of 57 people found the following review helpful
By NNNNN
Format:Audio CD
To many Sibelians Sir John Barbirolli's 1960's cycle of the complete symphonies with the Halle Orchestra is one of the finest ever recorded. Unlike today's conductors who tend to take a "one size fits all" approach to these works,Sir John takes them on as individual works that should not all be played the same. Tempos for example may be broad in some works and brisk in others. Orchestral detail is also finally balanced. Many of Sibelius' subtle woodwind details that many drown out with the strings are here heard in their proper perspective. Foremost though is the sense of atmosphere and drama that is essential in making these symphonies work. Under Barbirolli they are never lacking. The orchestral works which fill out this generous set are equally well done.Although these recordings have been available by EMI's Japanese susidiary for over a decade this is the first release in the US and Europe of the complete recordings. It was a long time coming but it was well worth the wait!
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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
My memory of this recording is that Sir John took the tempi "broad and slow". There is a warmth in the playing that makes Sibelius a spiritual experience for me. The slow movement of the 3rd is what I found most moving. Especially when the movement recaps and the basses are drifting deeply in halfnote triplets.

I had this set on LP when I was a teenager and it was my prized piece in my collection. I've been waiting for this to come out since 1980, and it's been a cruel, gruelling wait.

Other great moments (it's been 21 years so, be lenient on me if you don't agree) are;

trumpet crescendo in the 1st symphony - this was described to me by a Toronto record shop owner (Bruce Certes) as "like Appollo 8 taking off to the moon".

Second Symphony, very meditative slow movement and if the coda in the finale doesn't rise you out of your comfy chair and force you to conduct your stereo, then you don't understand Sibelius!

Third Symphony, never rushed, ever, and this I love. Sir John knows just when to hold a phrase and when to move on. I've yet to hear another acceptable performance of this work.

Fourth... well, when I was a teen I didn't understand the work. I've forgotten how Sir John did it and I'm very anxious to here it now.

Fifth... glorious, just plain glorious.

Sixth... inner woodwinds hidden in the inner movements in your other recordings? They won't be now. Heavenly music.

Seventh... Absolutely gorgeous slow intro. The only quirk on the entire set (for me) is the very, very last note at the end of the symphony. It seems cut short. It's been 20 years since I've seen the score, but could it be a quarter note? If it is, it's a similar interpretive problem as the half note Beethoven used at the very end of the Eroica (for me anyway).

If you love Sibelius, buy it... it's imperative.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sibelius Edition-Barbirolli
I was not too sure if I would like this version by Barbirolli,but was very pleasantly surprised,having now played the disc many times. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Helen Lore Zetter
The Sibelius Edition - Barbirolli
I have long wanted to explore Sir John's interpretations of the Sibelius Symphonies, and here they all are in one box, together with several other orchestral pieces on 5 discs at... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Bankerbob
Historical classic, brought up to date
So far I've only dipped into this treasure chest of five discs and played Disc One. This is just loaded with compositions that I love, and it is a delight from start to finish. Read more
Published 12 months ago by bob foster
Complete Sibelius
Bought for my wife who is a Sibelius fanatic!
It also replaces all the mixed recordings we have of these symphonies - some hardly known recordings by hardly known orchestras,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. M. Glazebrook
For the symphonies - four out of seven
There is much that is good in this set, but there are three things at least to take on board at the outset. Read more
Published 13 months ago by A. W. Macfarlane
Almost perfect...
Barbirolli's recordings still are among the best, but there are individual recordings that can be better on for example the 5'th symphony (Karajan with Berlin PO) or Kamu... Read more
Published 14 months ago by O. Blix
A Critical Mass for Sibelius
I reviewed Leonard Bernstein's and the New York Symphony Orchestra's complete symphonies because I thought their interpretation of Symphnony No. 5 was the best version. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Glen1975
It's all in the depth of concentration - last reviewer
Some recordings get the true core out of the music - and this is one of them.
Sibelius's music has great depth almost detacthed from music itself. Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by GeeStrod
One or Two Surprises
A few reviewers have mentioned that Barbirolli often takes a measured, broad approach in his interpretations of the symphonies. Read more
Published on 23 April 2010 by Mr. A. R. Boyes
Great performances! Coherent and powerful
This set is almost a revelation even though I had two of the symphonies (5 and 7) on LP in the 70s! I remembered the 7th as a great performance but that I had found the 5th a... Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by enthusiast
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