Maazel: Sibelius (5 CD box set, FLAC)

Audio CD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Sony
Size: 1.26 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
01. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: I. Andante ma non troppo – Allegro energico
02. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: II. Andante (Ma non troppo lento)
03. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: III. Scherzo. Allegro
04. Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39: IV. Finale. (Quasi una Fantasia). Andante
05. Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105: Adagio – Vivacissimo – Adagio
06. Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105: Allegro molto moderato – Allegro moderato – Presto – Adagio – Largamentemolto – Affettuoso

CD 02
01. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 (1901-02): I. Allegretto
02. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 (1901-02): II. Tempo Andante, ma rubato
03. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 (1901-02): III. Vivacissimo – (Attacca)
04. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 (1901-02): Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: IV. Finale – Allegro moderato
05. Symphony No. 6 in D Minor, Op. 104: I. Allegro molto moderato
06. Symphony No. 6 in D Minor, Op. 104: II. Allegretto moderato
07. Symphony No. 6 in D Minor, Op. 104: III. Poco vivace
08. Symphony No. 6 in D Minor, Op. 104: IV. Allegro molto – Allegro assai – Doppio piu lento

CD 03
01. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: I. Allegro moderato
02. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: II. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
03. Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: III. Moderato – Allegro (Ma non tanto)
04. Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22, No. 3 from Lemminkäinen Suite
05. Karelia Suite, Op. 11: I. Intermezzo. Moderato
06. Karelia Suite, Op. 11: II. Ballade. Tempo di menuetto – Un poco più lento
07. Karelia Suite, Op. 11: III. Alla marcia. Moderato
08. Valse triste, Op. 44, No.1 from Kuolema
09. Finlandia, Op. 26

CD 04
01. Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 63: I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
02. Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 63: II. Allegro molto vivace
03. Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 63: III. Il tempo largo
04. Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 63: IV. Allegro
05. Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: Tempo molto moderato
06. Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
07. Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: Allegro molto

CD 05
01. Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 47: I. Allegro moderato
02. Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 47: II. Adagio di molto
03. Concerto in D Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 47: III. Allegro, ma non tanto
04. Lento assai from “Serenade No. 2 in G Minor”, Op. 69b
05. En saga, Op. 9

Sibelius revisited

These performances sound natural. Maazel has a direct, objective manner in Sibelius and the natural, open sounding recording of the Pittsburgh Orchestra is suited to the music.
Sibelius’s symphonies aren’t `theological’ (like Bruckner’s and, in a different way Mahler’s too). These landscapes are unpopulated, often inhospitable, bleak and cold. There are moments when the broad land, sea and skyscapes open out into music that seems to belong to the transcendent vastnesses of deep-space (especially in the 4th and 7th Symphony). Maazel’s objective and patient approach is ideally suited to these enigmatic and inscrutable works. It communicates a raw, physical energy. It also seems to hold at its core a stillness; a still, silent centre around which musical planets move and coalesce.
There is a cogency about this cycle, a seamless consistency; widely varied scenes viewed from the same vantage-point.
The excellent performance of the Violin Concerto is a treasure! The soloist, Julian Rachlin, plays with breadth; a fluent, rhapsodic freedom and a wonderful vitality and bite. The recorded balance is ideal, the solo violin superbly `present’ but not unnaturally forward.
The Pittsburgh Orchestra may lack velvety plushness – but that is no disadvantage in a Sibelian soundscape. They have the advantage of dark, articulate lower strings, delightfully grainy bassoons, trombones as black as a pine forest and brilliant, blazing horns. The simple microphone techniques used project the orchestra with honesty and impact. Climaxes are huge and heavy and detail well-focused.