Notes and Editorial Reviews
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This set contains almost all of Sibelius' incidental music written to accompany spoken theater (King Kristian II, Swanwhite, Pelléas and Mélisande, Belshazzar's Feast, Kuolema, Jedermann, The Language of the Birds, and The Tempest), as well as his ballet-pantomime Scaramouche. Missing are the two movements for strings from The Lizard, which presumably will be included in a later release--but in all respects that matter BIS offers an embarrassment of riches. Indeed, you get to hear most of this music twice, since the complete edition includes both
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the original theatrical scores (from Vänskä) as well as the later concert suites drawn from them (featuring Järvi). Not everything is duplicated: Everyman, for example, never got turned into a suite (it's a bit too fragmentary), but it's well worth hearing.
The performances are all splendid and extremely well-recorded. There's not a weak link in the bunch. The original scores, with the exception of The Tempest, have no competition on disc, while Järvi's versions of the suites all rank with the best. His is still the only complete recording of Scaramouche, a patchy but fascinating piece. It's true that perhaps only diehard Sibelians will want to compare the arrangements side by side, but at a special price (6 CDs for the price of 3) anyone can afford to sample. This extremely well-executed project certainly deserves your support, and will reward it amply.
– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
King Christian II, Op. 27 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Anna-Lisa Jakobson (Mezzo Soprano),
Raimo Laukka (Baritone)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
2.
King Christian II, Op. 27: Suite by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; Finland
3.
Kuolema by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Kirsi Tiihonen (Soprano),
Raimo Laukka (Baritone)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903/1911; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
4.
Kuolema: Valse triste, Op. 44 no 1 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903-1904; Finland
5.
Kuolema: Scene with Cranes, Op. 44 no 2 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903-1906; Finland
6.
Kuolema: Canzonetta, Op. 62a by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1920; Finland
7.
Kuolema: Valse romantique, Op. 62b by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1920; Finland
8.
Pelléas et Mélisande, JS 147 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1905; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
9.
Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 46 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Anna-Lisa Jakobson (Mezzo Soprano),
Raimo Laukka (Baritone)
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1905; Finland
Notes: Concert suite.
10.
Belshazzar's Feast, Op. 51 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Lilli Paasikivi (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra,
Lahti Chamber Choir
Period: Romantic
Written: 1906; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
11.
Belshazzar's Feast, Op. 51: Suite by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1906; Finland
12.
Swanwhite, Op. 54: Preliminary sketch for no 9 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Jaakko Kuusisto
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1908; Finland
13.
Swanwhite, Op. 54 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Sakari Tepponen (Violin),
Pauli Pietiläinen (Organ)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1908; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
14.
Swanwhite, Op. 54 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1908; Finland
Notes: Concert suite.
15.
Twelfth Night, Op. 60: no 1, Come away, death by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Jorma Hynninen (Baritone)
Conductor:
Jorma Panula
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1909; Finland
16.
Language of birds: Wedding March by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1911; Finland
17.
Scaramouche, Op. 71 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1913; Finland
18.
Everyman, Op. 83 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Leena Saarempää (Piano),
Lilli Paasikivi (Mezzo Soprano),
Pauli Pietiläinen (Organ),
Sauli Tiilikainen (Baritone),
Petri Lehto (Tenor)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra,
Lahti Chamber Choir
Period: Romantic
Written: 1916; Finland
19.
The Tempest, Op. 109 by Jean Sibelius
Performer:
Heikki Keinonen (Baritone),
Anssi Hirvonen (Tenor),
Juha-Pekka Tanskanen (Bells),
Markku Krohn (Percussion),
Leena Saarempää (Harp),
Ilkka Silvonen (Harmonium),
Lilli Paasikivi (Mezzo Soprano),
Matti Rouvali (Clarinet),
Jyrki Saloranta (Clarinet),
Lasse Junttila (Oboe),
Outi Viitasalo-Parikka (Flute),
Kirsi Tiihonen (Soprano),
Paavo Kerola (Tenor)
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra,
Lahti Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1925; Finland
Notes: Original theater music.
20.
The Tempest, Op. 109: Suite no 1 - Canon by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Osmo Vänskä
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Finland
Notes: Version: 1927.
21.
The Tempest, Op. 109: Prelude by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1925; Finland
22.
The Tempest, Op. 109: Suite no 1 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1925; Finland
23.
The Tempest, Op. 109: Suite no 2 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Neeme Järvi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1925; Finland
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