Composer: Jean Sibelius
Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä
Number of Discs: 4
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Decca
Catalogue: 4852256
Release: 2022
Size: 4.56 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
01. I. Andante, ma non troppo – Allegro energico
02. II. Andante (ma non troppo lento)
03. III. Scherzo. Allegro
04. IV. Finale. Quasi una fantasia
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
05. I. Allegretto
06. II. Tempo andante, ma rubato
07. III. Vivacissimo
08. IV. Finale. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
09. I. Allegro moderato
10. II. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
11. III. Moderato – Allegro ma non tanto
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
12. I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
13. II. Allegro molto vivace
14. III. Il tempo largo
15. IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82
16. I. Tempo molto moderato
17. II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
18. III. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
19. I. Allegro molto moderato
20. II. Allegretto moderato
21. III. Poco vivace
22. IV. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
23. I. Adagio –
24. II. Vivacissimo – Adagio –
25. III. Allegro molto moderato –
26. IV. Vivace – Presto – Adagio
27. Tapiola, Op. 112
3 Late Fragments
28. I. HUL 1325 (Compl. Virtanen)
29. II. HUL 1326/9 (Compl. Virtanen)
30. III. Allegro moderato, HUL 1327/2 (Compl. Virtanen)
The Chief Conductor of Oslo Philharmonic and Music Director of Orchestre de Paris, Klaus Mäkelä announces his debut album; the complete Sibelius symphonies plus the fragments of the unfinished 8th and his last symphonic poem Tapiola. The orchestra has been performing the music of Jean Sibelius for over 100 years, with the composer himself conducting three concerts of his music in 1921. Together they form the Scandinivian Trio.
In April 2021, Decca announced the signing of a contract with new young conductor, Klaus Mäkelä (born 1996), shortly after his appointment by the Orchestre de Paris as musical advisor for two years and then musical director from September 2022. The English label signed a conductor for the first time in several decades, in this case another student of Jorma Panula, who played an important role in many careers at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. In addition, to enter the recording scene with a complete set of Sibelius’ seven symphonies is a daring venture. Each work in the cycle, which is particularly complex, is unique.
Discographically, the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra is not necessarily associated with Sibelius’s orchestral works, having made few recordings apart from the four symphonies (Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5) recorded with Mariss Jansons for EMI in the early 1990s, which suffered from a very reverberant sound recording. This is not the case with this Decca recording as the technical teams have done a remarkable job in recording. The listener will perceive everything about Sibelius’ orchestral writing, the depth of the textures in particular, all the more so as Klaus Mäkelä masterfully takes care of the balances (Symphony No. 1), the numerous polyphonic exchanges, in the course of visions with moderate tempos. The listener will feel every bit of Sibelius’ orchestral writing, the depth of the textures in particular, all the more so as Klaus Mäkelä masterfully maintains the balances (Symphony No. 1) as well as the numerous polyphonic exchanges in the flow of moderate tempo. There are no shocking contrasts or explosive breaks here. Klaus Mäkelä’s gestures are extremely calm and composed. The conductor is not very receptive to the composer’s rhythmic surges and phrases the broad lines with impressive majesty (Finale of the 3rd Symphony). Klaus Mäkelä does not exacerbate the contrasts between the orchestral blocks here. With remarkable respect for the silky nature of the Norwegian orchestra, he always tries to bring about fusion and promotes tonal continuity between the vocal groups. Even Symphony No. 4, composed during Sibelius’s darkest period, is, under the direction of Klaus Mäkelä, largely bright, a far cry from the frightening cataclysms of Ernest Ansermet (Decca, 1963) or Sir Thomas Beecham (BBC Legends, in concert, 1954).
Throughout the seven symphonies, this Sibelius work, marked by a general desire for euphony, is unquestionably distinguished by the coherence of the conductor’s vision and the sumptuousness of his production.