Sibelius: Complete Symphonies, Tone Poems

The Davis/BSO cycle of Sibelius symphonies is of the highest caliber with regard to interpretation, performance, and now, sonics (with one exception explained below) with this remastered set. The price makes the box an incredible bargain for a complete set of symphonies.Davis makes excellent use of dynamic contrasts which enhance these dramatic readings. Tempi insure that the music never drags. There isn't a mediocre performance in the box. Symphony 1 in particular is extremely impressive and receives a superb performance. It includes many elements that Sibelius would develop in later symphonies. Finlandia is not as broadly interpreted as by some other conductors, and loses some of its emotional impact in the softer sections as a result. The finale, however, is awe-inspiring. Symphony 2 is one of my favorites, and it is accorded a magnificent performance.There is almost always a fly in the ointment and for this album it's the soundstage. Most recordings are engineered such that the stereo image is spreads across the front of the room. Ideally, you should hear an evenly distributed soundfield. In these recordings the vast majority of sound originates from the left and right speaker with far less contribution from points in between. I bring this up because the flaw does make the listing experience less than one would hope for with such superb performances.This complete set of Sibelius symphonies and tone poems is an exceptional bargain. Davis' interpretations are deservedly highly-regarded and the playing of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is beyond reproach. Even if the soundfield anomaly is an issue for you, Davis' interpretation and the performance of the BSO make these recordings extremely compelling. Highly recommended!

I added jean Sibelius to my collection to see if I would enjoy some of his works. I picked this one after reading reviews and it seems there was some positive and negative reviews on this particular set. well since I have never heard of Sibelius I have nothing to compare it with so I figured I would like it.as I listen to it I really enjoyed it and I see nothing wrong with it. again with nothing else to compare it with by jean Sibelius I feel my review would be for the new listeners and I believe you will enjoy it as much as I have so far.

I enjoy much of this set, but I have never been able to understand the near-universal praise for Davis's BSO recording of the 7th. The solo trombone is so harsh, so out-of-tune, and so completely out of place in this great symphony as to make the performance unlistenable for me. The glorious "chorale" that emerges in the solo trombone five or six minutes into the symphony sounds absolutely awful in this performance, and it's not much better when it returns at the end. Nothing, however, can excuse that final blaring trumpet splat at the very end. There are also ensemble and editing glitches. Davis is much better in this symphony in both later performances with the LSO--yes, even the RCA set.

A nice midpriced reissue of the late 1970's Sibelius cycle of Colin Davis and the BSO originally released on Phillips.5 CDs and a thin trilingual booklet with notes and recording info in a slim fold open cardboard box.The recordings come from the end of the analog era and are good quality analog to digital transfers that allow the historic Symphony Hall to be heard on these recordings from 1975 to 1980.All 7 Symphonies, six tone Poems and the Karelia Suite are from the BSO and the Violin Concerto is from a 1979 London Symphony Orchestra recording to fill out the set.If you have the old Phillips versions this will be duplication and a lack of any info on remastering except for a couple disks (the Tone Poems and Violin Concerto not on the Phillips Duo CDs) leave the impression it's the Phillips transfers being used and this release is to shift the download copyrights to Decca's parent company Universal/Vivendi.

Yes, this is the same set as the two volumes listed below. However, it has been condensed into one attractive boxed set and seems to be re-mastered also. The sound is spectacular. All I can say is, along with Ashkenazy, Siegerstam and Collins, this set is supremely beautifully performed and recorded. The BSO at it's peak! What great music this is. And if you don't believe that analog is better then most digital recordings listen to this great set. A suitable homage to a great conductor.

I don't have much to add to the other highly positive reviews here. I can say that this recording of "En Saga," here presented on CD for the first time, is the most powerful I know. There may be certain performances of certain pieces where I might prefer Barbirolli, and I'm very pleased to have both sets. But this re-mastering of the truly great cycle by Davis with the BSO is an occasion for rejoicing.

This Sibelius cycle, I believe the first by Colin Davis, has been lavished with praise by music critics. I found nothing to prevent me from giving this the highest praise also. Tempos might be slow for some, but the entire cycle and the tone poems are interpreted and executed perfectly for me.

I have several readings of the Sibelius Complete Symphonies, and this is not one of the better ones. The tempo is too fast and the dissonance in Number Five seems to be off key in places ( I can't really tell if the issue is with the recording or the performance). I have many more individual readings of the Fifth, which is my favorite, and none sound like this recording. Throughout the set, it seems as if Colin Davis was in a frantic rush to just be done with this recording session.The Neeme Jarvi set (DGG) is very good, but lacks any notes. The Osmo Vanska set is very good as well and contains a decent notes booklet and both versions of the Fifth. The Simon Rattle set with the CBSO on EMI is also excellent, but my set does not have notes.I just can't find a good reason to recommend this reading, Colin Davis on Decca, to anyone, especially since there are so many better versions available.

Gosto muito das versões de Sibelius por Colin Davis.

Ottima esecuzione.

コリン・ディービス指揮のボストン交響楽団のシベリウス第２番を図書館で借りて聴いてみてとても良かったので自分のコレクションにさせて頂きました。最初はタワーレコードオンラインで注文した所、版元品切れとの事で購入が困難と聞き、余計に欲しくなりました。　Amazonの出店業者で購入が出来てしかも比較的安価で購入が出来ました事は大変喜ばしいことです。Amazonの国内での出店業者ではまず間違いなくしかも良い品質のものが購入出来ていることはAmazonの信用によるものと思います。Amazon自身で出品されたグリーグのベルゲン・フィルと小川典子ピアノの８枚CDも信用を裏切らないできちんと出荷して欲しいと願うばかりです。今後ともよろしくお願い致します。

impeccable

Este ciclo sinfónico Sibelius vuelve al mercado en una elegante caja de 5 CDs y continúa siendo una opción muy respetada, para muchos consagrada entre las mejores, y ello a pesar de los años que lleva a sus espaldas (1975-76) y la gran cantidad de integrales que se han grabado posteriormente, lo que ya dice mucho de él. Y es que los planteamientos de Sir Colin Davis y la gran respuesta de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Boston hacen muy difícil figurarse otra forma más sensata de interpretar esta música. Todas las aproximaciones a estas sinfonías son sinceras e idiomáticas. Destacan la visión expansiva y lírica, la tensión controlada (para algunos demasiado), el equilibrio y precisión orquestal o un toque distinguido sin dureza alguna proveniente del director, entre otras muchas cualidades.Completan este set muy buenas versiones de algunos poemas sinfónicos (Finlandia, En saga, La hija de Pohjola y Tapiola), la Suite Karelia, Vals triste, El cisne de Tuonela y el Concierto de violín (con Salvatore Accardo).Este es el primero de los tres ciclos completos de sinfonías de Sibelius que grabaría Sir Colín Davis, recientemente fallecido. Junto al primero que grabara Berglund (con Bournemouth/ EMI) o el de Barbirolli (EMI/Warner), este se puede considerar ya como otro clásico inolvidable. Con un sonido analógico de gran calidad, espacioso y cálido, la recomendación es plena.Puntuación global: 4,5 - 5 / 5