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Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thomas Søndergård
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales here shows itself to be in fine fettle, offering cogent, clear-textured performances.
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thomas Søndergård
Purchase product
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales here shows itself to be in fine fettle, offering cogent, clear-textured performances.
About
Thomas Søndergård’s opening concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, at which Sibelius was the highlight, was hailed a triumph by audiences and press alike and marked a new era for the orchestra.
Building on this triumphant debut the 2013 BBC Proms saw Søndergård and a reinvigorated BBC NOW win over the critics with their charismatic performance and formidable interpretations of 20th century repertoire.
Stating his intentions the new Principal Conductor was clear: ‘I can’t wait to discover Sibelius all over again with my new orchestra’.
With their nationalist themes Symphonies 2 & 7 are perfect repertoire for Søndergård and his orchestra to make their symphonic recording debut.
The Second Symphony marked a major step in Sibelius’ development as a composer, and remains one of his most popular works.
Symphony No. 7 is notable for being a one-movement symphony and is completely original in form, subtle in its handling of tempi, individual in its treatment of key and wholly organic in growth and is considered Sibelius’ most remarkable compositional achievement.
Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård is Principal Conductor of BBC NOW and Principal Guest Conductor of Royal Scottish National Orchestra; a rare honour to hold titled positions with two major British orchestras.
His 13/14 season includes the Vale of Glamorgan Festival, Gregynog Festival, Cheltenham Festival, plus several dates at the BBC Proms including a performance of Sibelius Symphony No. 5.
His 2013 appearances at the BBC Proms (including Strauss An Alpine Symphony and Shostakovich Symphony No.11) received wide praise from both audience and critics.
The BBC NOW presents an annual season at St David’s Hall, Cardiff, where it is Orchestra-in-Residence, as well as concerts in venues across Wales and beyond; including annual performances at the BBC Proms and biannually at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
Contents and tracklist
- Thomas Søndergård, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Recorded: 26-28 March 2014
- Recording Venue: BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Thomas Søndergård, BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- Recorded: 26-28 March 2014
- Recording Venue: BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Awards and reviews
29th March 2015
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales here shows itself to be in fine fettle, offering cogent, clear-textured performances.
12th April 2015
On the basis of their impressive debut album, the omens for this partnership are good. Symphony No 2 has a haunting inner strength, especially in the andante, with Søndergård keeping a tight rein on emotions until the expansive last movement. The elusive, one-movement Symphony No 7 – Sibelius’s last – is similarly intense and rigorous. Woodwind and brass mix rawness with grandeur.
15th March 2015
Søndergård's new recording appreciates the scale and substance of Sibelius' work...The BBC NOW...responds keenly to the way that Søndergård subtly controls aspects of tempo, instrumental balance and the shifting of mood to create a genuine sense of the music’s organically conceived nature.
The Herald (Glasgow) March 2015
Sondergard's Sibelius Two is breathtaking in its speedy pacing, lightness of foot, and command of the internal fluctuations of pace, mood and momentum that make this most organic masterpiece so natural in its growth....The playing of BBC NOW, in line with its conductor's evident vision, is astonishing in its sophistication. Their flawless performance of the Seventh Symphony, if you love this music, will break your heart.
