Heard this symphony a few days ago on the radio at work (and..I work in a loud ass sawmill/woodshop to be fair!). Don't remember which performance it was but I DEFINITELY heard that distinctitude that you were marveling at! Anyway, great video. I love it when you get into the nitty gritty of the piece musically and relate it to the temperament and responsibility of the orchestra.
Love the Davis version, but also keep listening to the Scottish National's Chandos version with Sir Alexander Gibson, another supreme Sibelus interpreter. Interestingly, perhaps, Colin Davis followed Alexander Gibson as Assistant Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony and then took over from Gibson as MD of Sadlers Wells Opera in London (precursor of the English National Opera) when Gibson returned north as MD of the Scottish National.
I grew up with this boxset & it will always hold a special place in my heart. I adore the 5th ❤ Sadly the tubist in Helsinki pissed off sibelius, and we have no tuba parts after the 2nd 😢 I really would have loved to have performed the 5th, but I have conducted it many, many times with the Worlds Greatest orchestras in my living room with wonderful results 😂
This recording is new to me. Listened to the 1st movement. Omg, at the 7:00 mark, that basson(?) line over the violins, thrilling. As you said, the tempo is a little slower, but it's just so wonderful.
I "imprinted" with Maazel/Vienna on all 7 symphonies, but I certainly acknowledge the greatness of this one, and I get that it is a "reference" for some!
Regarding the timpani part, I had the privilege to see the legendary timpanist Rainer Seegers of the Berlin Philharmonic (you know, for years the mustache hovering above all in the back) play Sibelius 5th several times and wow did he nail that part. Sadly, the timpani captured on the Rattle recording from a few years back don’t really do justice to his mastery - I have the feeling the sound engineers were unnecessarily futzing around, in some instances the timpani part is quite clear and then it is muffled/recessed, especially in the final bars of the 1st movement (just why?). On an another note, I once heard Seegers say that he is particularly happy of their Maazel Bruckner 8th you like so much, a recording that also sound-wise captures the timpani very well.
What a coincidence for me, I was watching an interview yesterday (on UA-cam) with scientist Brian Cox who says he uses Sibelius 5th Symphony third movement for a touring presentation. He said he jokingly asked a conductor friend of his "What should Stanley Kubrick have used in 2001" and the conductor immediately responded Sibelius 5th Symphony. I was going to search you back catalogue for your recommendation and suddenly here it is. So it's off to Qobuz now for me...
Hi Dave, I do not know why I keep wondering why I have a particular recording on my shelves now like this Colin Davis Sibelius 5th. Of course, it is one of Dave's recommmendations. There are now hundreds of them after almost four years. I watched all of your "ideal" lists during my first year (2021). Jay
It's such a great point that the correct tempo where the printed articulations are possible sounds cleaner and faster. Overly hurried tempos are a cop-out that usually draws an audience's eyes to the (unskilled) conductor and away from the music.
The very last 2 chords of the Symphony has the timpanist playing a grace note just ahead of the last stroke . Some recordings that I have heard abandoned the grace note altogether. I assume it has to do with the Conductor s prerogative?
Love the Davis recording. The timpani in the coda of the first moment are thrilling. I came across the first version on bis, interesting how the spaced our chords at the end, were originally not. Paul
I like this recording too. My personal preference is for Bernstein, who is of course somewhat idiosyncratic in this work, but it was the first one I ever heard, and no other sounds quite so exactly right to me.
Exactly my thoughts. I love the Bernstein/Vienna one. Because it’s an unusual interpretation and yet almost the only one that sounds right to me, I worry I’ve “ruined” the work for myself. To be honest, I don’t think the tempi are *so* unusual, the main deciding trait is the super bright brass and timpani sound. Most orchestras sound muddy to me as we approach the end. However, with Bernstein, when the timpani initially enter as we build to the main climax, to me it sounds like a ray of light piercing through. No other orchestra seems to get an effect quite like that.
Yes, I love Bernstein's 1980s recording of this one with the VPO (which Dave seems to slam for "getting the tempo changes wrong" and not having enough tremolo). Got it on a CD along with an equally good recording of the 7th. One thing that's striking about Bernstein's Sib-5th is the sense of luminousness that seems to grow out of the changes of rhythms and keys. Without any overuse of timpani, or massed outbursts of strings, Bernstein conjures a precise sense of inner growth, like a river moving or a rocket ascending into the sky: there's a cosmic feeling about the music that comes through powerfully, especially in the first movement. Parts of the 5th were used by the BBC to illustrate the Apollo 11 expedition to the Moon in 1969, and this makes sense when you listen to Bernstein's recording: it has a weightless visual flow similar to Kubrick's use of the Danube Waltz in "2001".
No, it's horrible. Badly recorded, and badly played, with the timpani getting lost in the coda of the first movement. To others here: avoid at all costs!
@@DavesClassicalGuide Too late. I made the mistake 15-20 years ago. The only thing that could be worse would be if I'd joined a record club to get it. Love his BSO cycle though.
Dave, thanks for the warning. I have got it for almost 15 years. I will get Sir Colin with Bostoners and I will compare. Usually I go back to Sibelius symphonies recorded by Paavo Berglund with COE for Finlandia Records. Strange what you write about quality of the recording, the 5th was recorded by Tony Faulkner in very good acoustically venue, known for great recordings. Bad day for all the staff? 😊 PS. I will prepare bruschettas with double garlic for this comparatory auditioning fest!
I like this Davis one a lot. In fact I like his whole Boston cycle a lot. But I still think the most exciting end of the 1st mvmt is the Karajan EMI one. I know people will now think I'm weird since everyone tends to prefer his DG but in the 5th it's EMI for me. :D
Heard this symphony a few days ago on the radio at work (and..I work in a loud ass sawmill/woodshop to be fair!). Don't remember which performance it was but I DEFINITELY heard that distinctitude that you were marveling at! Anyway, great video. I love it when you get into the nitty gritty of the piece musically and relate it to the temperament and responsibility of the orchestra.
I'd love to be in a sawmill enlightened enough to be blasting out Sibelius 5😊❤!
Love the Davis version, but also keep listening to the Scottish National's Chandos version with Sir Alexander Gibson, another supreme Sibelus interpreter. Interestingly, perhaps, Colin Davis followed Alexander Gibson as Assistant Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony and then took over from Gibson as MD of Sadlers Wells Opera in London (precursor of the English National Opera) when Gibson returned north as MD of the Scottish National.
Just listened to your fantastic choice Dave. The first movement starts like a tightly wound spring, and unfurls like a continuous accelerando.
The Sibelius 5th is so awesomely unique and strange that several versions should be heard. If you like it, you will end up with many recordings.
wonderful; my favourite symphony - in a smashing recording.
Wonder what you think about Ashkenazy's 5th (that was my introduction as a kid)
Not great. I saw him do a wonderful performance live with the Cleveland Orchestra, but his recordings aren't nearly as good.
I recorded their Severance Hall performance off of the local Cleveland radio station Sunday afternoon broadcast and have really enjoyed it ever since.
Long a favorite version. But lately I've been listening to Kamu/Lahti Symphony cycle, because the BIS sound is exceptional. You can hear every detail.
I grew up with this boxset & it will always hold a special place in my heart.
I adore the 5th ❤
Sadly the tubist in Helsinki pissed off sibelius, and we have no tuba parts after the 2nd 😢
I really would have loved to have performed the 5th, but I have conducted it many, many times with the Worlds Greatest orchestras in my living room with wonderful results 😂
That's a myth. Sibelius used the tuba elsewhere, just not in his symphonies. His scoring was always very distinctive.
This recording is new to me. Listened to the 1st movement. Omg, at the 7:00 mark, that basson(?) line over the violins, thrilling. As you said, the tempo is a little slower, but it's just so wonderful.
I "imprinted" with Maazel/Vienna on all 7 symphonies, but I certainly acknowledge the greatness of this one, and I get that it is a "reference" for some!
Regarding the timpani part, I had the privilege to see the legendary timpanist Rainer Seegers of the Berlin Philharmonic (you know, for years the mustache hovering above all in the back) play Sibelius 5th several times and wow did he nail that part. Sadly, the timpani captured on the Rattle recording from a few years back don’t really do justice to his mastery - I have the feeling the sound engineers were unnecessarily futzing around, in some instances the timpani part is quite clear and then it is muffled/recessed, especially in the final bars of the 1st movement (just why?).
On an another note, I once heard Seegers say that he is particularly happy of their Maazel Bruckner 8th you like so much, a recording that also sound-wise captures the timpani very well.
What a coincidence for me, I was watching an interview yesterday (on UA-cam) with scientist Brian Cox who says he uses Sibelius 5th Symphony third movement for a touring presentation. He said he jokingly asked a conductor friend of his "What should Stanley Kubrick have used in 2001" and the conductor immediately responded Sibelius 5th Symphony. I was going to search you back catalogue for your recommendation and suddenly here it is. So it's off to Qobuz now for me...
Hi Dave, I do not know why I keep wondering why I have a particular recording on my shelves now like this Colin Davis Sibelius 5th. Of course, it is one of Dave's recommmendations. There are now hundreds of them after almost four years. I watched all of your "ideal" lists during my first year (2021). Jay
It's such a great point that the correct tempo where the printed articulations are possible sounds cleaner and faster. Overly hurried tempos are a cop-out that usually draws an audience's eyes to the (unskilled) conductor and away from the music.
The very last 2 chords of the Symphony has the timpanist playing a grace note just ahead of the last stroke . Some recordings that I have heard abandoned the grace note altogether. I assume it has to do with the Conductor s prerogative?
Yep. But it depends on how quickly it's played. The fact that you can't hear it cleanly doesn't mean it's not there.
Love the Davis recording. The timpani in the coda of the first moment are thrilling. I came across the first version on bis, interesting how the spaced our chords at the end, were originally not.
Paul
What year was this recorded? Was it around 1975?
1975. Exactly. I heard it then, and it's still the best!
I like this recording too. My personal preference is for Bernstein, who is of course somewhat idiosyncratic in this work, but it was the first one I ever heard, and no other sounds quite so exactly right to me.
First recordings do tend to set a cerebral template, don't they?😊
Exactly my thoughts. I love the Bernstein/Vienna one. Because it’s an unusual interpretation and yet almost the only one that sounds right to me, I worry I’ve “ruined” the work for myself. To be honest, I don’t think the tempi are *so* unusual, the main deciding trait is the super bright brass and timpani sound. Most orchestras sound muddy to me as we approach the end. However, with Bernstein, when the timpani initially enter as we build to the main climax, to me it sounds like a ray of light piercing through. No other orchestra seems to get an effect quite like that.
The Bernsten 5th is the recording that turned me on to Sibelius but I have also owned the Davis 5th since it was originally released. Love them both!
Yes, I love Bernstein's 1980s recording of this one with the VPO (which Dave seems to slam for "getting the tempo changes wrong" and not having enough tremolo). Got it on a CD along with an equally good recording of the 7th. One thing that's striking about Bernstein's Sib-5th is the sense of luminousness that seems to grow out of the changes of rhythms and keys. Without any overuse of timpani, or massed outbursts of strings, Bernstein conjures a precise sense of inner growth, like a river moving or a rocket ascending into the sky: there's a cosmic feeling about the music that comes through powerfully, especially in the first movement.
Parts of the 5th were used by the BBC to illustrate the Apollo 11 expedition to the Moon in 1969, and this makes sense when you listen to Bernstein's recording: it has a weightless visual flow similar to Kubrick's use of the Danube Waltz in "2001".
I have 5th performed by Sir Colin with LSO and recorded by RCA. Also great reading.
No, it's horrible. Badly recorded, and badly played, with the timpani getting lost in the coda of the first movement. To others here: avoid at all costs!
@@DavesClassicalGuide Too late. I made the mistake 15-20 years ago. The only thing that could be worse would be if I'd joined a record club to get it. Love his BSO cycle though.
Dave, thanks for the warning. I have got it for almost 15 years. I will get Sir Colin with Bostoners and I will compare. Usually I go back to Sibelius symphonies recorded by Paavo Berglund with COE for Finlandia Records. Strange what you write about quality of the recording, the 5th was recorded by Tony Faulkner in very good acoustically venue, known for great recordings. Bad day for all the staff? 😊 PS. I will prepare bruschettas with double garlic for this comparatory auditioning fest!
Karajan emi forever!
I like this Davis one a lot. In fact I like his whole Boston cycle a lot. But I still think the most exciting end of the 1st mvmt is the Karajan EMI one. I know people will now think I'm weird since everyone tends to prefer his DG but in the 5th it's EMI for me. :D
Which of Karajan's EMI recordings? Philharmonia or Berlin Philharmonic? Guessing Berlin......?
@@Bezart34 Berlin 1977.