Sibelius: Luonnotar; Tapiola; Spring Song (2021)

This is a magnificent Sibelius release from the Bergen Philharmonic and conductor Edward Gardner, who is taking up a long tradition of British Sibelius conducting. His ability to lead the Bergen Philharmonic, essentially a regional ensemble, to punch above its weight is remarkable. Here, the orchestra is deployed at its best in Tapiola, Op. 112, the final masterpiece of Sibelius' later career (he lived for 30 more years but wrote nothing else of consequence). This forest tone poem combines breathtakingly subtle ... Read More

This is a magnificent Sibelius release from the Bergen Philharmonic and conductor Edward Gardner, who is taking up a long tradition of British Sibelius conducting. His ability to lead the Bergen Philharmonic, essentially a regional ensemble, to punch above its weight is remarkable. Here, the orchestra is deployed at its best in Tapiola, Op. 112, the final masterpiece of Sibelius' later career (he lived for 30 more years but wrote nothing else of consequence). This forest tone poem combines breathtakingly subtle orchestration with an intricate motivic web, and the delicate shadings of Gardner's reading are marvelous. They would be enough to make this recording stand out, but there's more. Many will tune in for Lise Davidsen, one of the star sopranos of the moment, who is heard in an earlier nature tone poem, Luonnotar, Op. 70, which shows off her exceptionally rich lower register. Davidsen also takes a turn in the exquisitely tuneful incidental music for Pelléas et Mélisande, Op. 46. To top it all off,... Read Less

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2021, Chandos UPC: 095115521724 SACD See All