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Amazon.co.uk Review
Here's the concluding instalment in Petri Sakari's Sibelius symphony series for Naxos--and very recommendable it is, too. As before, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra responds to its Finnish chief's clear-headed direction with unstinting enthusiasm and sensitivity. What's more, Sakari's readings are as impressively cogent as they are scrupulously observant, and if his Seventh just misses out on greatness, it remains an extremely likeable proposition, as does his fresh-faced account of the elusive, often other-worldly Sixth. As the outer portions of the latter work reveal, the Icelandic strings are fractionally wanting in corporate security and lustrous sheen, but there is nothing remotely slapdash about their contribution, while the woodwind playing is endearingly characterful throughout. As a rewarding fill-up, Sakari lends admirably alert advocacy to the second suite from Sibelius's extensive incidental score for a 1926 Copenhagen production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Throw in Naxos's excellent production values and useful annotation and it all adds up to a pretty irresistible package for under a fiver. --Andrew Achenbach
BBC Music Magazine
This Icelandic Sibelius cycle under Petri Sakari is going very well. Looking back, I see I wrote earlier in the year of Nos 4 and 5 as 'straightforward and unaffected, dedicated and selfless, and free from interpretative point-making' - and the same goes for these performances. You feel completely safe with this conductor in the driving seat, confident that you will be given a truthful view of the musical landscape. The Sixth Symphony is among the most satisfying we have had for some little time. It is as thoughtful and as well shaped as some of the best and although the Icelandic orchestra is not in the same league as the Berlin Philharmonic or the LSO, they are far from negligible. The Seventh is very powerful, spacious and broad in approach - not quite as intense as Maazel (Decca) or Colin Davis but eminently satisfying. The second of the Tempest suites is also touched by distinction (the 'Chorus of the Winds' sounds quite magical) and full of atmosphere. On the back of the disc we are told that The Tempest presented a new challenge after so many years devoted to the composition of symphonies and enabled him to reflect his own feelings. I can't imagine anything more personal than the Sixth. Never mind, this is Sakari's finest Sibelius disc yet, and the well-balanced sound does credit to all concerned. And all at budget price too.
Performance ****
Sound ***
© BBC Music Magazine 2000
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning performances of Sibelius' last pair of symphonies - but turn the volume up!,
By
This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 (Audio CD)
After a three-year break since the recording of Sibelius' fourth and fifth symphonies (a very good effort - seeSibelius: Symphonies Nos 4 & 5), Petri Sakari and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra reconvened in February and March of 2000 and set down what might just be the "best" recordings of symphonies 6 & 7, and a very good Tempest suite # 2.
Sibelius 6 was first performed in 1923 and is perhaps the most difficult of his symphonies to pull off on record. It's cool stuff, is Sibelius 6! Ravishing strings introduce the first theme and here, for once, the Icelanders sound just right - what a difference from their recording of 1 & 3 (seeSibelius: Symphony No1, Op39; Symphony in C No3, Op52! The excellent woodwinds benefit from Sakari's perfect pace, too. It's all exquisite and essential for any Sibelius collection. There is competition, of course, and professional critics highly rate Vanska Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7 / Tapiola and Rattle Sibelius: Symphonies 1-7 [Box Set], although I have not heard the former and the latter only twice. A year later, Sibelius published symphony 7, a disconsolate single movement work. Compared with just a few years before, the Iclander's string section outdo themselves in this symphony, I feel. This is a rather serious and sad work, coming at the tail end of Sibelius' output. A long silence followed this symphony until Sibelius died in 1957, at the ripe old age of 91, despite the vodka and cigars! This Naxos CD also contains a very good performance of The Tempest suite # 2 to give a generous running time of 71'17". Excellent performances all-round, this low-cost CD is very highly recommended (even though you have to turn the sound up a bit more than usual to open up the recorded sound - a peculiarity of this series), although Sir Colin Davis' Philips Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 3, 6 & 7/Violin Concerto, and RCA Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc. [Box Set] in symphony 7 and VanskaSibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7 / Tapiola in 6 should be on your shelf, too.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Sibelius on Naxos,
By JohnL "jomin44" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 (Audio CD)
This is a very nice coupling of Sibelius' last two Symphonies. Petri Sakari conducts the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in very fine fashion. They play with a heartwarming fervour, especially the woodwinds. The outer movements of No. 6 have plenty of fire. The performance of Sibelius single-movement 7th is no less attractive. Gramophone Magazine gave this recording their monthly Editor's Choice Award. The Penguin Guide gave this 3 stars, which is "an outstanding performance and recording in every way". Also, the French magazine La Monde de la Musique gave it their highest "Special Award CHOC symbol". As if not enough, Naxos throws in a very likable account of the rarely heard Second Suite from Sibelius' 1925 incidental music from The Tempest. At a wonderful low price, Naxos provides an excellent 71-plus minutes from the great Finnish composer. Warmly recommended.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of Sakari's Sibelius Symphony cycle on Naxos,
By Erik Homenick - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7 (Audio CD)
As far as I'm concerned, Petri Sakari's cycle of Sibelius symphonies on Naxos is, for the most part, a very "middle of the road" affair in terms of interpretation. Sakari's Icelandic forces are by no means without their merits; quite to the contrary; this is a very good orchestra. What is lacking in Sakari's Sibelius symphonies is that something extra to make them stand out against the formidable competition that is available at a budget price or otherwise.
Remember, I said MOST of Sakari's Sibelius symphonies lack that extra ounce of specialness. This disc is the exception. A BIG exception. This recording is simply ravashing. Both the 6th and 7th symphonies are performed with such freshness and sensitivity that it makes me wonder what prevented Sakari from working the same magic on the other discs. Within both symphonies, there is a forward momentum that seems to be lacking in most recordings of these works (why does everyone have to take them so slowly?) that makes these an edge-of-your-seat experience. The 6th especially is performed with a rare passion that makes what is Sibelius's most elusive symphony an exciting listen as opposed to a simply satisfying one. And let's not forget Sakari's brilliant Suite No. 2 from THE TEMPEST. Again, there is a certain excitment here that seems to be lacking in other recordings of this rare piece. Anyone who is a skeptic when it comes to "late Sibelius" should acquire this disc without delay. Of course, anyone who already loves these works should not hesitate in adding these recordings to their collection. As far as Sakari's Sibelius goes, thos one's a real "diamond in the rough." |
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