The new D Sharp label makes an auspicious debut with this first collection of popular Sibelius orchestral music, impressively recorded in the EMI No. 1 Studio (produced by John Boyden and effectively balanced by Christopher Parker) with the acoustic giving a convincing concert-hall depth. The performances are highly individual, full of atmosphere but undoubtedly wayward. The massive opening of Finlandia is emphasized, when the allegro gets going, by the resonant bass response. Rozhdestvensky's conception here is essentially spacious, as it is throughout, but some might feel he overdoes the ritenutos in the ''Valse triste'' which is a very personal conception indeed. The central movement of Karelia ( ''Ballade'') also tends to lack a steady forward pulse, although the ''Alla marcia'' has a fine climax.
The most impressive performances are undoubtedly The swan of Tuonela, very free and rhapsodic, with lovely cor anglais playing, and Pohjola's Daughter which has memorably poetic opening and closing sections. But again, here the pulse is variable, although the conductor maintains the tension consistently. The pictorial front of the sleeve is enticing, but on the reverse the art-work has been totally misjudged so that the words of the programme notes are partially obliterated by a repetition of the same picture.'