Composer: Jean Sibelius
Performer: Laurence Thorstenberg, Salvatore Accardo
Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Colin Davis
Number of Discs: 5
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Decca
Catalogue: 4783696
Release: 2012
Size: 1.37 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
01. 1. Andante, ma non troppo – Allegro energico
02. 2. Andante, ma non troppo lento
03. 3. Scherzo. Allegro
04. 4. Finale. Quasi una fantasia
05. Finlandia, Op. 26
06. Pohjola’s Daughter, Op. 49
07. Tapiola, Op. 112
CD 02
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
01. 1. Allegretto
02. 2. Tempo andante, ma rubato
03. 3. Vivacissimo – Lento e suave – Largamente
04. 4. Finale. Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
05. Adagio –
06. Vivacissimo – Adagio –
07. Allegro molto moderato – Allegro moderato –
08. Vivace – Presto – Adagio – Largamente molto –
09. Affettuoso
CD 03
Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
01. 1. Allegro moderato
02. 2. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
03. 3. Moderato – Allegro ma non tanto
Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
04. 1. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
05. 2. Allegro molto vivace
06. 3. Il tempo largo
07. 4. Allegro
CD 04
Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
01. 1. Tempo molto moderato – Largamente – Allegro moderato
02. 2. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
03. 3. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
04. 1. Allegro molto moderato
05. 2. Allegretto moderato
06. 3. Poco vivace
07. 4. Allegro molto
08. The Swan of Tuonela (from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22)
09. Valse Triste, Op. 44 No. 1
CD 05
01. En Saga, Op. 9
Karelia Suite, Op. 11
02. 1. Intermezzo. Moderato
03. 2. Ballade. Tempo di menuetto
04. 3. Alla marcia. Moderato
Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
05. 1. Allegro moderato
06. 2. Adagio di molto
07. 3. Allegro, ma non tanto
Since the beginning of his recording career, Colin Davis has been a champion of the music of Jean Sibelius, and his highly regarded cycle of the seven symphonies has been a mainstay of many LP and CD collections over the years. Recorded between 1975 and 1979 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and grouped here with the Violin Concerto and various famous tone poems, such as Finlandia, The Swan of Tuonela, and Tapiola, Davis’ set is still a viable contender against other packages on the market, and listeners who want lucid interpretations will be hard pressed to find any that improve on these performances. The BSO deserves much credit for playing the music with sympathetic expression, full sonorities, and technical expertise, because the ensemble had included Sibelius’ works in its repertoire for decades under Sergey Koussevitzky. Add to this Davis’ understanding of the subtle changes in Sibelius’ music, from the ardent Romantic nationalism that informed the early period to the anguished, introspective struggles that made his final works so profound and moving. Decca’s recorded sound was exceptional to begin with, so the remastering from analog to digital has preserved all of the originals’ richness and luster without artificial enhancements.