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Jean Sibelius?

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Posted on July 14, 2012 at 19:19:02

mrjdub33@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 306
Joined: June 8, 2008

Valse triste Opera 44 in particular is one of the most captivating movements I have heard since I began seriously listening to classical music over 20 years ago. This piece I own on Herbert Von Karagan's "Adagio" cd, Deutsche Grammaphone which has samplings of his various works over the years, purchased many years back and has made me wonder about the other offerings for "Valse triste" and the other works that accompany it, The Swan of Tuonela and the usual accompaniments.

I recently purchased another Herbert Von Karagan cd, EMI Import (remastered) to replace this aging disc, which should arrive later this week. I know the subject has been touched on over the years, but as I have begun to home in on my classical collection I rather like the idea of having multiple works of my favorites. Any suggestions, cd, sacd or downloads would be very helpful. Thanks.

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RE: Jean Sibelius?

jec01

11:53:14 07/17/12

RE: Jean Sibelius?

learsfool

20:32:16 07/16/12

RE: Jean Sibelius?

Paul_A

21:04:14 07/14/12

...

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RE: Jean Sibelius?

jec01

11:53:14 07/17/12

RE: Jean Sibelius?

learsfool

20:32:16 07/16/12

RE: Jean Sibelius?

Paul_A

21:04:14 07/14/12

Actually - Davis Recorded 3 Cycles

Mike Porper

08:02:24 08/01/12

Oh gosh! The poor cat from "Allegro non troppo"

Chris from Lafayette

23:37:31 07/14/12

That Berglund sounds like c**p

jult52

14:07:15 07/16/12

RE: That Berglund sounds like c**p

mrjdub33@aol.com

22:54:10 07/16/12

RE: That Berglund sounds like c**p

mrjdub33@aol.com

17:21:49 07/18/12

OK - I re-listened. You'll have to tell me where the c**p is

Chris from Lafayette

22:14:09 07/16/12

Hi Chris, I came home

jult52

17:36:30 07/17/12

Wow - I will re-listen, but I've always thought it sounded excellent

Chris from Lafayette

15:45:36 07/16/12

RE: Jean Sibelius?, posted on July 14, 2012 at 21:04:14
Paul_A Audiophile Posts: 2341 Location: New York City Joined: April 3, 2000	Colin Davis recorded the symphonies twice. I think that the more recent "LSO Live" set is the better of the two. But I still like the animated version of the Valse Triste from "Alegro Non Tropo" by Bruno Bozetto (below): Bolero from the same movie is pretty good too:

Oh gosh! The poor cat from "Allegro non troppo", posted on July 14, 2012 at 23:37:31

Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 5259
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

I admit I'm sentimental enough to have shed tears when I first watched that in a theater! (My wife had the same reaction.) But the attitude of the director is SO Italian, when he shows the old ladies sobbing away at the end, and thereby pokes fun at THEIR sentimentality (and, by implication, the viewer's sentimentality - if the viewer had a reaction like I did)! That's so funny and so Italian! I don't dare watch it again! ;-)

Other Valse triste recordings besides Karajan's I'd recommend are the Paavo Berglund / Philharmonia (EMI - the best of his several performances I think) and the Paavo Järvi / Estonian NSO (Virgin).

That Berglund sounds like cp, posted on July 16, 2012 at 14:07:15**
jult52 Audiophile Posts: 951 Location: Philadelphia Joined: May 27, 2009	although the performance is pretty good. But it isn't recommended for audiophiles. One little-known recording I like a lot is the Pekka Helasvuo led Finlandia Sinfonietta CD which has a beautiful version of the Valse triste.

Wow - I will re-listen, but I've always thought it sounded excellent, posted on July 16, 2012 at 15:45:36
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 5259 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	More later.

RE: Jean Sibelius?, posted on July 16, 2012 at 20:32:16
learsfool Audiophile Posts: 711 Joined: August 4, 2008	OK, I guess I'll go there - no one has mentioned the most popular piece by Sibelius, which is his short overture entitled Finlandia. The symphonies are well worth checking out if you want longer works. Look for the San Francisco Symphony recordings on Decca with Blomstedt conducting. Also, his violin concerto is one of my favorites. There are many recordings out there.

OK - I re-listened. You'll have to tell me where the c**p is, posted on July 16, 2012 at 22:14:09

Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 5259
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
Since: February 6, 2012

Seriously, dude - I admit the Berglund/Philharmonia Valse triste is not a 32/352.8 DXD recording, but it's generally well balanced and well engineered. I tried it through my main system and through my Stax headphones. It's interesting, because as I look at your system, it's fairly similar to mine, so I'd think we'd be hearing more or less the same thing. Oh well - as I say in the subject line, you'll have to let me know where the c**p is. ;-)

p.s.: maybe one cause for the difference is that I have a Japanese edition of this CD, not the domestic Seraphim that I pictured in my post. But, c'mon, I thought bits was bits.

RE: That Berglund sounds like c**p, posted on July 16, 2012 at 22:54:10

mrjdub33@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 306
Joined: June 8, 2008

Cool! "Finlandia" is included on the disc I purchased. These are fantastic recommendations you guys are making!

Thanks again!!

RE: Jean Sibelius?, posted on July 17, 2012 at 11:53:14

jec01
Audiophile

Posts: 508
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Joined: September 22, 2004

If you're getting started in Sibelius, you might take a look at the Vanska set, which can be downloaded in MP3 format from Amazon for the princely sum of eight bucks. Yes, it's MP3, but as MP3 goes the sound is pretty good. I'm no expert in this repertory, but I enjoy these performances more than the Colin Davis BSO set that was once a standard recommendation.

And really, for $8, what have you got to lose?

Happy listening,

Jim
Happy listening,

Jim

"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno

Hi Chris, I came home, posted on July 17, 2012 at 17:36:30

jult52
Audiophile

Posts: 951
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: May 27, 2009

And listened to the Berglund, in the US edition which you posted. I'll retract the "c**p" designation, which is too strong, but I do think it is flawed engineering, with some harshness in the upper registers and some digital haze. It certainly isn't the worst recorded CD I have but it is below average.

I had purchased the CD to listen to "The Oceanides", one of the Finn's most magical works, and found the Berglund more and more grating on each listening. I then bought a beautiful Colin Davis version which I think is better from both the interpretational and sound perspectives.

It's possible the US and Japanese versions are at different levels of quality. And yes we have similar systems which should reveal the same weaknesses in a given recording. Anyway, be well.

RE: That Berglund sounds like c**p, posted on July 18, 2012 at 17:21:49

mrjdub33@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 306
Joined: June 8, 2008

Ahh! My "Sibelius" disc arrived today and I must say this remastered cd recording rivals some of my reference sacd classical stuff! "Only if was available on sacd" this would be the icing on the cake for multi-ch playback. To my surprise "En Saga" "Karelia Suite " and the others are simply to die for and I can see why Sibelius works tops the list of many. This cd is a must have if you are a fan Sibelius!

Actually - Davis Recorded 3 Cycles, posted on August 1, 2012 at 08:02:24
Mike Porper Audiophile Posts: 803 Location: Chicago Joined: December 28, 2009	The first was with the BSO on Philips. The second was from the 90s on RCA. His latest has been the LSO Live set.

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