Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2, 4 & 5; 3 Lieder / Borg, Rosbaud, Southwest German RSO
Details
- Composer
- SIBELIUS, JEAN
- Artist
- Rosbaud, Sudwestfunk-Orchester Baden-Baden, Borg
- Format
- CD
- Label
- SWR
- Released
- Oct 08, 2021
- Catalog #
- SWR19105CD
- UPC
- 747313910588
About
The Austrian conductor Hans Rosbaud (1895–1962) is known for his interpretations of Mozart, Mahler and Bruckner and the Second Viennese School, but his readings of Sibelius are less familiar. Rosbaud made acclaimed Sibelius recordings for Deutsche Grammophon between 1948 and 1962 including Finlandia, Karelia and Tapiola. With this collection, SWR Classic presents studio recordings from 1955 and 1961 of Symphonies Nos. 2, 4, and 5 and Three Songs for Bass and Orchestra featuring Kim Borg. Rosbaud’s lean and forensic approach to conducting is well suited to the Finnish master’s music as these recordings from the SWR archives attest.
REVIEW:
Happily, this two-disc set is all good, and hardly conventional. It’s useful to remember that when these versions of symphonies 2, 4 and 5 were recorded (1955-61), Sibelius interpretation hadn’t become as standardized as it is now. In Germany, especially, the composer’s symphonies were hardly known, so Rosbaud was very much exploring virgin territory.
Consider this performances of the Second Symphony, with its very measured opening movement and extremely quick finale. It’s certainly different from what we expect to encounter today, but Rosbaud’s control of pacing and careful attention to accent and phrasing is such that it all sounds perfectly natural and convincing. The Fifth Symphony, too, moves effortlessly, with a surprisingly acceleration at the very end.
The Fourth Symphony, however, is simply stunning. Rosbaud’s handling of texture reveals layers of color in the first movement, string parts especially, that you’ve never heard before, while the tragic finale is unflaggingly gripping. Rosbaud is not a literalist. He ignores Sibelius’ indication to take the closing bars in tempo, and mezzo forte, opting instead for a darker, sadder, softer conclusion that replaces cold indifference with a measure of human despair. As I said, it’s hardly conventional, but perfectly valid and masterfully done.
As a bonus, the three orchestral songs sound splendid as performed here by Kim Borg. These are all studio recordings, captured in good, broadcast quality mono. If you collect Sibelius, you will need to hear these performances, no question about it.
-- ClassicsToday.com (David Hurwitz)
Tracklist 14 tracks
- Disc 1
-
1 Twelfth Night, Op. 60: No. 1. Kom nu hit, död (Come Away, Death) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra) 03:00
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Twelfth Night, Op. 60: No. 1. Kom nu hit, död (Come Away, Death) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra)
- Duration
- 03:00
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Performer
- Kim Borg
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
2 6 Songs, Op. 36: No. 6. Demanten på marssnön (The Diamond on the March Snow) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra) 02:53
- Track
- 2
- Title
- 6 Songs, Op. 36: No. 6. Demanten på marssnön (The Diamond on the March Snow) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra)
- Duration
- 02:53
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Performer
- Kim Borg
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
3 7 Songs, Op. 17: No. 6. Illalle (To Evening) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra) 02:56
- Track
- 3
- Title
- 7 Songs, Op. 17: No. 6. Illalle (To Evening) (arr. I. Hellman for voice and orchestra)
- Duration
- 02:56
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Performer
- Kim Borg
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
4 I. Allegretto 11:01
- Track
- 4
- Title
- I. Allegretto
- Duration
- 11:01
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
5 II. Tempo andante, ma rubato 12:48
- Track
- 5
- Title
- II. Tempo andante, ma rubato
- Duration
- 12:48
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
6 III. Vivacissimo - 05:48
- Track
- 6
- Title
- III. Vivacissimo -
- Duration
- 05:48
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
7 IV. Finale: Allegro moderato 11:48
- Track
- 7
- Title
- IV. Finale: Allegro moderato
- Duration
- 11:48
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
- Disc 2
-
1 I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio 11:45
- Track
- 1
- Title
- I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
- Duration
- 11:45
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
2 II. Allegro molto vivace 04:54
- Track
- 2
- Title
- II. Allegro molto vivace
- Duration
- 04:54
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
3 III. Il tempo largo 12:47
- Track
- 3
- Title
- III. Il tempo largo
- Duration
- 12:47
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
4 IV. Allegro 10:57
- Track
- 4
- Title
- IV. Allegro
- Duration
- 10:57
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
5 I. Tempo molto moderato - Allegro moderato 13:02
- Track
- 5
- Title
- I. Tempo molto moderato - Allegro moderato
- Duration
- 13:02
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
6 II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto 08:11
- Track
- 6
- Title
- II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
- Duration
- 08:11
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud
-
7 III. Allegro molto - Largamente assai 08:15
- Track
- 7
- Title
- III. Allegro molto - Largamente assai
- Duration
- 08:15
- Composer
- Jean Sibelius
- Ensemble
- SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks
- Conductor
- Hans Rosbaud