This CD is reissued by ArkivMusic.
Notes and Editorial Reviews
Herbert von Karajan was an excellent Sibelius conductor, and this disc contains mostly excellent performances of the six listed works. En Saga is thrillingly powerful, with one of the most exciting climaxes on disc. It would have been even more so if EMI and the Berlin Philharmonic could have figured out how to capture the bass drum with more impact; but with strings and brass going at full tilt there's little cause for complaint. Indeed here, and in Finlandia and Tapiola, there's none of that slickness that often afflicts Karajan's work in, say, the standard German repertoire. He projects the menacing opening of Finlandia as have few others, bringing an almost expressionistic violence to the piece, and no one has ever captured the storm at
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the end of Tapiola with greater impact. Both Valse triste and The Swan of Tuonela are incredibly beautiful as well as atmospheric, and only the Karelia Suite comes across as somewhat droopy compared with the best performances. The analogue sonics are better than the digitals (Karelia and Valse triste)--but minor caveats aside, this is a powerful memento of Karajan's gifts, and pretty stunning by any standard.
--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
Reviewing EMI 76847
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Works on This Recording
1.
Finlandia, Op. 26 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Finland
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 9 Minutes 38 Secs.
Notes: Composition written: Finland (1899 - 1900).
2.
Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22: no 3, Swan of Tuonela by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893-1897; Finland
Date of Recording: 09/1976
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 8 Minutes 31 Secs.
3.
En saga, Op. 9 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892/1902; Finland
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 18 Minutes 24 Secs.
4.
Karelia Suite, Op. 11 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; Finland
Date of Recording: 01/1981
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 16 Minutes 17 Secs.
Notes: This selection is a DDD recording.
5.
Tapiola, Op. 112 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1926; Finland
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 19 Minutes 23 Secs.
6.
Kuolema: Valse triste, Op. 44 no 1 by Jean Sibelius
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903-1904; Finland
Date of Recording: 12/1976
Venue: Philarmonie, Berlin
Length: 6 Minutes 3 Secs.
Sound Samples
Finlandia Op. 26 (1987 Digital Remaster)
Legends (Lemminkäinen Suite) Op. 22 (1987 Digital Remaster): 2. The Swan of Tuonela
Karelia Suite Op. 11: I. Intermezzo
Karelia Suite Op. 11: II. Ballade
Karelia Suite Op. 11: III. Alla marcia
Tapiola Op. 112 (1987 Digital Remaster)
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