Santtu-Matias Rouvali’s recording of Sibelius’s First Symphony and En saga (3/19) received a string of accolades following its release last year, including a nomination for best recording in the Orchestral category of the Gramophone Awards. This second release in his Sibelius cycle featuring the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra is equally impressive. As before, Rouvali’s performance is distinguished by an arresting vividness and clarity, allowing the listener to perceive details normally lost in the overall sound picture while presenting a compellingly structured and unmannered view of the symphonic journey. The result is not dissimilar to Osma Vänskä’s recording with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra but I find Rouvali’s performance has an additional sense of involvement, especially in the two middle movements. In the Andante, for instance, the music’s precipitous dynamic contrasts and volatile stringendos are not only strikingly realised but also powerfully expressive, and the playing in the Scherzo is quite electrifying. The finale is also stirringly played, although like many conductors, including Paavo Järvi (RCA, 3/19) and Andris Nelsons (BSO Classics, 6/15), Rouvali links the chords at the very end of the symphony with a continuous timpani roll rather than presenting them as the imposing stand-alone statements preferred by Vänskä.

Although neglected in the concert hall, Sibelius’s splendid King Christian II Suite has been well served on record. Berglund’s 1970s recording with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is still perhaps the finest but Rouvali’s performance is very good too. I marginally prefer Berglund’s phrasing of the heartfelt melody at the heart of the Serenade but Rouvali’s livelier tempo for the Musette brings considerable additional sparkle. In the Ballade, Rouvali is almost a minute slower than his Finnish colleague (5'41" versus 4'46"), but the interpretation of this movement has an epic power that convinces as much as Berglund’s more fiery approach. With both works given superlative sound, this is a recording to commend to all Sibelians.