Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 4-7; The Swan of Tuonela; Tapiola cover

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 4-7; The Swan of Tuonela; Tapiola

Released

While people tend to be either all-in or all-out on Sibelius, this set, and particularly the performance of the Fifth Symphony, has something for almost everyone. For the believers, Sibelius’s familiar sonic vistas and Nordic weltschmerz have rarely sounded better; for the skeptics, rich color, meticulous texture and thrilling ensemble playing are present in enough abundance to be challenging. Karajan and the Philharmonic particularly rise to the occasion in a beautiful and intense performance of the third movement of the Fifth.

Sean Wood

Suggestions
Farrenc: Symphonies Nos 1 & 3 cover

Farrenc: Symphonies Nos 1 & 3

Insula Orchestra, Laurence Equilbey
Vivaldi: L’Estro Armonico cover

Vivaldi: L’Estro Armonico

Brecon Baroque, Rachel Podger
Jascha Heifetz plays Beethoven (Sonatas & Concerto) cover

Jascha Heifetz plays Beethoven (Sonatas & Concerto)

Ludwig van Beethoven, Jascha Heifetz
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms cover

Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Brahms: Symphony No. 4; MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra cover

Brahms: Symphony No. 4; MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 cover

Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Leonard Bernstein, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527, Opera arranged for Wind Ensemble by Josef Triebensee cover

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527, Opera arranged for Wind Ensemble by Josef Triebensee

Rolando Villazón, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Diana Damrau, Mojca Erdmann, Luca Pisaroni, Joyce DiDonato, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo
Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmelites cover

Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmelites

Kent Nagano, Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon
Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes cover

Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes

Boston Symphony Orchestra, Anne-Sophie Mutter