Composer: Max Bruch, Edvard Hagerup Grieg, Jean Sibelius
Performer: Zino Francescatti, Phyllis Curtin
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Number of Discs: 7
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Sony
Catalogue: 88875026142
Release: 2015
Size: 3.37 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
01.I. Andante ma non troppo – Allegro energico
02.II. Andante
03.III. Scherzo – Allegro
04.IV. Finale – Quasi una Fantasia
05. Sibelius: Luonnotar for Soprano and Orchestra, Op. 70
CD 02
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
01. I. Allegretto
02. II. Tempo andante ma rubato
03. III. Vivacissimo – Lento e suave
04. IV. Finale – Allegro moderato
CD 03
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
01. I. Allegro moderato
02. II. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
03. III. Moderato – Allegro ma non tanto
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
04. I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
05. II. Allegro molto vivace
06. III. Il tempo largo
07. IV. Allegro
CD 04
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 82
01. I. Tempo molto moderato – Largamente – Allegro moderato – Presto
02. II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
03. III. Allegro molto – Un pochettino largamente – Largamente assai
04. Sibelius: Pohjola’s Daughter, Op. 49
CD 05
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
01. I. Allegro molto moderato
02. II. Allegretto moderato
03. III. Poco vivace
04. IV. Allegro molto
05. Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105
CD 06
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
01. I. Allegro moderato
02. II. Adagio di molto
03. III. Allegro, ma non tanto
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
04. I. Vorspiel – Allegro moderato
05. II. Adagio
06. III. Finale – Allegro energico
CD 07
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
01. I. Morning Mood
02. II. The Death of Åse
03. III. Anitra’s Dance
04. IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55
05. I. The Abduction of the Bride – Ingrid’s Lament
06. II. Arabian Dance
07. III. Peer Gynt’s Homecoming – Stormy Evening on the Sea
08. IV. Solveig’s Song
09. Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
10. Sibelius: Valse Triste, Op. 44
11. Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22, No. 3
On the ‘Sony Classical’ label, The Symphonies collects Bernstein’s complete Sibelius recordings, newly remastered from the original analogue tapes using 24 bit / 96 kHz technology in a x7 CD limited original jackets collection. Bernstein regarded Sibelius alongside Mahler as one of “the key turning points” in the development of the 20th century symphony, though his reputation as a Mahler exponent has overshadowed a lifelong dedication to the Finnish composer. In New York in 1965, the Finnish composer’s centenary year, Bernstein conducted all the symphonies in a single season (only his mentor Serge Koussevitzky had done that in the US, three decades earlier in Boston). For his efforts, Bernstein was made a Commander of the Order of the Lion by the president of Finland. This set also contains his recording of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with the French virtuoso Zino Francescatti. Also included are Valse triste, The Swan of Tuonela, a rather brash Finlandia, a thrilling performance of Pohjola’s Daughter and Luonnotar – Sibelius’s haunting setting of words from the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic (with American soprano Phyllis Curtin) – as well as Bernstein’s only recording of Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites.