Sibelius Symphony 2 & Violin Concerto
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jean Sibelius
Genre:
Orchestral
Label: Essential Archive
Magazine Review Date: 8/1999
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 71
Mastering:
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: CDEA5016

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra |
Jean Sibelius, Composer
Ginette Neveu, Violin Jean Sibelius, Composer Philharmonia Orchestra Walter Susskind, Conductor |
Symphony No. 2 |
Jean Sibelius, Composer
Jean Sibelius, Composer John Barbirolli, Conductor New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra |
Author:
Re-reviewing ‘classic’ recordings is always a tricky business, especially in those few instances where a critic’s opinions do not quite square with all the accumulated critical adoration. In the case of Ginette Neveu’s feted account of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, although I admire the strength, passion and stamina of the solo playing, I find Walter Susskind’s Philharmonia accompaniment rather foursquare, especially in the finale. For me, Heifetz and Beecham triumph every time (Heifetz with Stokowski is something else again – but more of that anon). Still, EMI’s famous recording is a fine memento of a fiery interpretation, and the solo line comes across with miraculous immediacy in Mike Dutton’s transfer – better, in fact, then the orchestra, which tends to retreat under a veil whenever the music quietens.
Barbirolli’s impulsive New York recording of the Second Symphony burns bright and fast, but there are countless minor imprecisions that, for me, would irritate on repetition. In his excellent note, Lyndon Jenkins wags an admonishing finger at the contemporaneous American Record Book for insisting that this recording was ‘not comparable’ with other available versions, a view that I would second (sorry, Lyndon) – adding, perhaps, that neither is it comparable with the best of Barbirolli’s subsequent recordings. A handful of slow but distant swishes suggests that Dutton’s generally excellent refurbishment might have been based on an early LP transfer.'
Barbirolli’s impulsive New York recording of the Second Symphony burns bright and fast, but there are countless minor imprecisions that, for me, would irritate on repetition. In his excellent note, Lyndon Jenkins wags an admonishing finger at the contemporaneous American Record Book for insisting that this recording was ‘not comparable’ with other available versions, a view that I would second (sorry, Lyndon) – adding, perhaps, that neither is it comparable with the best of Barbirolli’s subsequent recordings. A handful of slow but distant swishes suggests that Dutton’s generally excellent refurbishment might have been based on an early LP transfer.'
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.