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Amazon.co.uk Review
Sakari Oramo directs his City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in this exceptionally refreshing account of Sibelius' Second and Fourth Symphonies. Eagle-eyed, strongly characterised and consistently involving in the Second, it's a reading of darker hue than usual, with much stimulating detail from low winds and brass especially. The finale in particular is a triumph: Oramo imparts both bardic splendour and a distinctive, glinting defiance to Sibelius' stirring inspiration (listen out for those snapping trombones at the very start), while the closing bars are audaciously grand and imposing. Oramo's Fourth is similarly full of good ideas and intelligent observation, the music's stark modernity and questing mystery distilled with authoritative insight. Time and again, Oramo's strict adherence to the letter of the score pays handsome dividends--and if the third movement occasionally lacks that final ounce of concentration, its inscrutable closing bars have surely seldom sounded more unnerving than here (the violas' repeated C sharps are for once played mf sempre, precisely as indicated). Throughout, the CBSO plays with commendable polish and infectious eagerness for their talented young Finnish chief and the Symphony Hall sonics are excellent too. All told, a most promising first instalment in this partnership's new Sibelius symphony cycle for Erato. --Andrew Achenbach
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oramo ups the ante with this recording,
By jot@cantus.demon.co.uk (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Sibelius - Symphonies Nos, 2 & 4 (Audio CD)
Sibelius's symphonies have been a part of my listening repertoire since I was a girl of 3 and was first presented with this music in on my father's knee. I have to say that I have not heard such an exhilarating performance of Sib. 2 (one of my personal favourites) ever - Oramo has a warmth and engagement with the music that a conductor like Maazel, who was previously my benchmark, lacks to the same extent. Sibelius's music consists of emotional polarities and contradictions, and therefore half the battle in interpreting his music successfully and effectively must be through showing a comprehensive understanding of his paradoxical expressive urges. The 2nd symphony is a case in point; we follow in it a journey of hope, despair in thwarting, and finally affirmation: elements which he was to explore more radically and divisively in later works:- The 4th is as gloomy and nihilistic - 'nay-saying' - as the 5th is life-affirmative and uplifting - and I feel that the successful Sibelius conductor has to follow and empathize with these emotional paradoxes - polarities of feeling - to be able to express them properly: and for me, Oramo has this ability.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional performance,
By
This review is from: Sibelius - Symphonies Nos, 2 & 4 (Audio CD)
I thought I knew this piece. I've loved it since childhood and as an orchestral player I have taken part in two or three performances. But this is exceptional. Wonderful playing, clear recording, and the fresh insights are too numerous to mention. The ending of the Second Symphony has a radiant inevitability -- measured and powerful, and it just takes your breath away. Try listening to the whole symphony in a darkened room without interruption. Amazing. Sakari Oramo knows exactly what he is doing.
Andrew
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