The Gramophone Choice

Coupled with Holberg Suite, Op 40 Sibelius Legends, Op 22 – No 2, The Swan of Tuonela. Kuolema – Valse triste, Op 44. Finlandia, Op 26

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan

DG Karajan Gold 439 010-2GHS (78' · DDD). Buy from Amazon

Very impressive indeed. Somehow one feels that one could stretch out and touch the players, so vivid is the sound here. In the Peer Gynt movements, there’s much greater range and separation. Peer Gynt is most beautifully done. At times you might think the wind could have been a shade more distant, particularly in the ‘By the seashore’ movement, but there’s no want of atmosphere here – quite the contrary! Not to put too fine a point on it, this is a marvellous recording. In the Holberg Suite, the sound has marvellous clarity and definition as well as exemplary range. For some tastes it may be a little too sophisticated but one’s admiration for it remains undimmed. The playing throughout is beautifully cultured and there’s wonderful lightness and delicacy. 

The present issue is Karajan’s third account of The Swan of Tuonela and it’s regrettable that he never committed to disc the four Legends in their entirety. It’s as powerful and atmospheric an account as ever recorded, and the remaining two pieces, Valse triste and Finlandia, reinforce the feeling that this partnership has never been equalled. The stirring account of Finlandia is incredibly wide-ranging – the orchestral playing is really in a class of its own.

Additional Recommendation

Coupled with In Autumn, Op 11. Symphonic Dances, Op 64 

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo

Erato 8573 82917-2 (74' · DDD). Buy from Amazon

As soon as the strings respond to the flute near the beginning of Peer Gynt’s ‘Morning’ – longingly leaning on an expressive ritardando – you sense this is a quality production. Oramo’s Grieg is keen-eared and with a sense of play that does credit both to Ibsen’s dramatic prompt and the folk-music roots of the concert works. 

← Grieg