Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

In the pantheon of essential Sibelius recordings, Barbirolli's October 1962 account of the Second Symphony with the RPO deservedly occupies a place of honour. Recorded at Walthamstow for Reader's... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 8th Feb 2008
Catalogue No: SBT1418
Label: Testament

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Sibelius: Syms 2 & 5

Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 43 - Sir John Barbirolli / RPO (1962) 1. Allegretto

Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 43 - Sir John Barbirolli / RPO (1962) 2. Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato

Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 43 - Sir John Barbirolli / RPO (1962) 3. Vivacissimo

Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 43 - Sir John Barbirolli / RPO (1962) 4. Finale (Allegro Moderato)

Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 In E-Flat Major, Op. 82 - Sir John Barbirolli / Hallé Orchestra (1968 Live) 1. Tempo Molto Moderato - Largamente - Allegro Moderato

Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 In E-Flat Major, Op. 82 - Sir John Barbirolli / Hallé Orchestra (1968 Live) 2. Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto

Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 In E-Flat Major, Op. 82 - Sir John Barbirolli / Hallé Orchestra (1968 Live) 3. Allegro Molto

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Favourites, Sibelius

Presto's founder Maurice Millward chooses his favourite recordings.

This record brings together, for the first time, undoubtedly inspired performances of two Sibelius symphonies – the Second and the Fifth – conducted by Barbirolli, the first a studio recording from 1962, the second a live BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concert from 1968.

Reviews

2010

In the pantheon of essential Sibelius recordings, Barbirolli's October 1962 account of the Second Symphony with the RPO deservedly occupies a place of honour. Recorded at Walthamstow for Reader's Digest with Charles Gerhardt producing and Decca's legendary Kenneth Wilkinson as balance engineer, it finds Sir John at his inspirational best in a reading which marries outsize but never wilful temperament to edge-of-seat spontaneity and keen poetic instinct. The experience is very much akin to attending a live concert of one's dreams.
The deceptively tricky slow movement is particularly remarkable for its daring flexibility of pulse and line yet never threatens to run aground, while the stirring finale (its big string tune so fervently sung both times round) will have you on your feet long before the end. If you haven't yet made this famous performance's acquaintance, don't hesitate for an instant.
The coupling is a Fifth Symphony with Barbirolli's beloved Hallé from the 1968 Proms which, in strength of personality and palpable depth of feeling, has a lot going for it. As on this team's 1966 EMI recording, the opening pages have exactly the right sense of awe-struck wonder and pregnant growth, and in the second movement it's a joy to hear Sibelius's delicious pizzicato writing “speak” with such clarity and eloquence. The first half of the finale has vitality and atmosphere in abundance, but you might crave a greater nobility of utterance in the towering epilogue. A commendably unbronchial audience roars its approval. Despite any minor quibbles, JB's many fans should be well pleased that Testament has salvaged such a typically vibrant display from the BBC vaults.

September 2008

Barbirolli's October 1962 account of the Second Symphony with the RPO… finds Sir John at his inspirational best in a reading which marries outsize but never wilful temperament to edge-of-seat spontaneity and keen poetic instinct. The coupling is a Fifth Symphony with Barbirolli's beloved Hallé from the 1968 Proms which, in strength of personality and palpable depth of feeling, has a lot going for it.

2011 edition

Two of the finest Sibelius perofrmances that Sir John ever recorded.

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

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Favourites, Sibelius

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