Sibelius - Scènes historiques I and II - Naxos: 8570068 - CD or download

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The New Zealand Symphony have a thoroughly international sound, but its playing is top-notch in every way…this is [Inkinen’s] first Sibelius disc with his new orchestra, and it's a winner all... — Fanfare More…

Release Date: 31st Dec 2007
Catalogue No: 8570068
Label: Naxos
Length: 63 minutes

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Sibelius: Scènes historiques I, Op. 25

Work length18:12

$4.00

$5.20

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Pietari Inkinen

I. All'Overtura

Track length4:44

$1.00

$1.30

II. Scena

Track length5:52

$1.00

$1.30

III. Festivo

Track length7:36

$2.00

$2.60

Sibelius: Scènes historiques II, Op. 66

Work length19:41

$4.00

$5.20

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Pietari Inkinen

I. The Chase

Track length7:24

$2.00

$2.60

II. The Love Song

Track length5:29

$1.00

$1.30

III. At the Drawbridge

Track length6:48

$1.00

$1.30

Sibelius: King Kristian II, incidental music, Op. 27

Work length25:28

$6.00

$7.80

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Pietari Inkinen

I. Nocturne

Track length7:28

$2.00

$2.60

II. Elegie

Track length5:37

$1.00

$1.30

III. Musette

Track length2:20

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Serenade

Track length4:45

$1.00

$1.30

V. Ballade

Track length5:18

$1.00

$1.30

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Sibelius first set of Scenes historiques forms a suite taken from music for patriotic pageant, staged in 1899 at a time of increasing Finnish nationalism and originally including Finalandia, which was published separately. For his Scenes Historiques II Sibelius composed a new music. In the opening the Chase, horns are heard through the mist, followed by the wild chase, with its impelling rhythms. The incidental music for Adolf Paul’s play King Christian II. Set in the 16th century, deals with the Kings’s love of a commoner, her murder by a jealous rival and the King’s bloodthirsty revenge. It includes a strongly-felt love scene, Nocturne, with many elements characteristic of the composer’s future musical language.

Reviews

The New Zealand Symphony have a thoroughly international sound, but its playing is top-notch in every way…this is [Inkinen’s] first Sibelius disc with his new orchestra, and it's a winner all around… this is a first-rate disc. Naxos provides a full-sounding recording with an ideal balance between hall ambience and detail… notes by Keith Anderson cover all the important bases. Let's look forward to more Sibelius from Inkinen—he's one to watch.

2010

Recordings of this entrancing repertoire are always welcome, particularly when they are as polished and involving as this. Pietari Inkinen (b1980) has recently taken up the reins as the NZSO's music director and, on this showing, is a talent to watch. Not only does he draw some high-quality, notably zestful playing from his new charges, he directs both sets of Scènes historiques with such keen temperament, abundant character and sensitivity to texture and nuance that they come up sounding strikingly newminted.
Indeed, his generously expressive and pliable shaping of the ravishing secondary material in 'Festivo' manages to stoke memories of Beecham's indelible RPO rendering from the early 1950s – and that's saying something! In the King Christian II suite, Inkinen and his responsive band easily hold their own against some stiff competition. There's some particularly eloquent string-playing in the achingly wistful 'Elegy' (where Inkinen distils a hushed intimacy that is deeply touching), while the dashing helterskelter ride of the concluding 'Ballade' has both invigorating spring and bite to commend it.
Boasting handsomely true and atmospheric sound, this collection certainly merits the attention of all Sibelians and represents enticing value at bargain price.

March 2008

Recordings of this entrancing repertoire are always welcome, particularly when they are as polished and involving as this. Pietari Inkinen is a talent to watch. Not only does he draw some high-quality, notably zestful playing from his new charges, he directs both sets of Scènes historiques with such keen temperament, abundant character and sensitivity to texture and nuance that they come up sounding strikingly new-minted.

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