This is the second of Paavo Berglund's two recordings of Kullervo, the symphonic poem-cum-symphony with which Sibelius made his breakthrough in Finland in 1892. It originally appeared on two full-price discs with the finale placed on the second together with Oma maa (''Our native Land'') and Tulen synty (''The Origin of Fire''), both valuable additions to the Sibelius discography. It now appears on a competitively-priced single CD and will be an obvious choice for many collectors. When comparing the present performance with Berglund's pioneering 1971 account (HMV—nla), I noted ''a much greater lyrical intensity in the shaping of phrases and altogether greater fantasy in the treatment of detail... almost every point is better made in this new account which is fresher and comes more from the heart than its predecessor''. At that time I marginally preferred the greater warmth of the 1971 analogue recording but there is no mistaking the clarity and presence of this excellent Matrix issue. The level is the same as on the old two-disc version and definition sounds to me as good or even better.
All four recordings of Kullervo so far made, including the BIS account under Neeme Jarvi, benefit from the presence of Jorma Hynninen. So does the Sony version conducted by Berglund's countryman, Esa-Pekka Salonen. I like the latter's brisk tempo for the first movement which is very close to that of Jussi Jalas's 1958 Helsinki Festival performance, the first in modern times. When I reviewed the Salonen last year I thought it ''the best Kullervo we have had yet'' and I stand by that though were Sir Colin Davis's 1992 Finnish Independence Day concert to appear on RCA, things would be different. Certainly the dramatic intensity of the central scena is impressively conveyed by Marianna Rorholm and Jorma Hynninen on the Salonen disc—but then so it is with Berglund's soprano, Eeva-Liisa Saarinen. I prefer Berglund's fourth movement; Salonen is just a bit headlong here. This present issue is recommendable on all counts, both artistically and in terms of sound, and at mid price is excellent value.'