The new Decca coupling of the Third and Sixth Symphonies completes Herbert Blomstedt’s Sibelius cycle with the fine San Francisco orchestra (previous discs were reviewed in 1/91, 7/91 and 5/96). Writing of an earlier issue in this series, I quoted Sibelius’s words apropos the Fourth Symphony, “there is absolutely nothing of the circus about it”, and the same applies to both of these performances. There is no playing to the gallery, nothing for the groundlings!
The Third Symphony is quite magnificent: its first movement can be placed alongside Sir Colin Davis’s version with the LSO in its mastery of pacing and architecture. In the slow movement Sir Colin brings greater inwardness and poetry to the string passage at fig. 6 (track 2, 3'48'') but both conductors are real Sibelians through and through.
Blomstedt brings many insights to the Sixth Symphony and there is an unfailing integrity and dedication throughout. Ultimately I think the Davis, coupled with the Second Symphony, brings just that bit greater intensity, depth of poetic feeling and sense of scale. But those who are collecting Blomstedt’s survey need not hesitate. Decca provide superbly present and wide-ranging recorded sound.'