Berglund

Like Paavo Berglund’s Sibelius symphony recordings, also with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, these Brahms performances inject a certain novelty that will be appreciated especially by the listener who has wearied of them due to excessive repetition. While these are not radically desiccated renditions in the manner of Chailly or Harnoncourt, the COE’s smaller-scaled string body does require a bit of time at first for your ear to adjust to the thinner timbres. But the reward is a harvest of inner detail, much of it barely audible in full-size orchestral performances (but well captured by Ondine’s vivid recordings), which continually surprises and delights.

Paavo Berglund (1929-2012) recorded the complete symphonies of his great compatriot Sibelius no fewer than three times. This set, central in every respect, was made in the 1980s with the Helsinki Philharmonic. Berglund, a former music director of the Helsinki Philharmonic, was renowned internationally as a master interpreter of Sibelius’s extraordinary music. In Gramophone’s words, he conducted it “with an unhurried, controlled inevitability that allows the music to unfold in its own time without any loss of tension or excitement”.

Paavo Berglund (1929-2012) recorded the complete symphonies of his great compatriot Sibelius no fewer than three times. This set, central in every respect, was made in the 1980s with the Helsinki Philharmonic. Berglund, a former music director of the Helsinki Philharmonic, was renowned internationally as a master interpreter of Sibelius’s extraordinary music. In Gramophone’s words, he conducted it “with an unhurried, controlled inevitability that allows the music to unfold in its own time without any loss of tension or excitement”.

Completing the cycle of the seven symphonies of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius is this remastered 2 CD recording from EMI of the performances by Paavo Berglund and the Helsinski Philharmonic Orchestra. Not only are the symphonies 5,6, and 7 given masterful performances, but the recording includes the rather rarely played 'The Oceanides' tone poem as well as the ever popular 'Finlandia' and 'Tapiola'. Again Berglund provides spacious sound and breathtaking climaxes in these works and the quality of sound from the Helsinki Philharmonic is solid.

Completing the cycle of the seven symphonies of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius is this remastered 2 CD recording from EMI of the performances by Paavo Berglund and the Helsinski Philharmonic Orchestra. Not only are the symphonies 5,6, and 7 given masterful performances, but the recording includes the rather rarely played 'The Oceanides' tone poem as well as the ever popular 'Finlandia' and 'Tapiola'. Again Berglund provides spacious sound and breathtaking climaxes in these works and the quality of sound from the Helsinki Philharmonic is solid.

In addition to his symphonic recordings, Berglund also recorded concertos by Shostakovich with Tortelier and Ortiz. The album also includes the piano solo "Three Fantasy Dances", recorded in 1973-1975.

This double CD from EMI features the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by their Finnish principal conductor at the time (1970s), Paavo Berglund. It doesn't have to be that a conductor originates from the same country as the composer whose works he or she is conducting, but it often happens that this combination seems to produce performances of greatest sensitivity. So it is here, as Berglund conducts 10 works by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The discs include quite familiar works like En Saga, one of Sibelius' first compositions when he was in his late 20s. We also have Pohjola's Daughter, The Bard and two of the four Lemminkäinen Legends, and a beautiful version of Luonnotar sung by the Finnish soprano Taru Valjakka. The rest of the discs is made up of less frequently heard pieces. We have the five-movement suite from the incidental music Sibelius wrote for Adolf Paul's play King Christian II (1898); the Spring Song (Vårsång) of 1894; the suite of incidental music from Maeterlinck's Pelleas and Melisande.

For the vast majority, he is well known from the Swedish supergroup ABBA. London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the Swedish violin soloist Christian Svarfvar, will release their own selection of Benny Andersson's most beloved compositions this spring.