Sibelius "Lemminkainen's Return" - Salonen conducts
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- One of the most exciting pieces that Sibelius wrote is "Lemminkainen's Return." It comes from his 'Four Legends,' music inspired by the exploits of the mythological hero of Finnish folklore. In this brilliantly exhilarating performance, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is conducted by its then Music Director, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and comes from the 1998 BBC Henry Wood Proms Season at London's Royal Albert Hall. As an encore, Salonen played Sibelius's "Death of Melisande," also now uploaded here.
Apologies for the fuzzy picture quality. The recording was made on a VCR video cassette in what seems to have been a less than good speed setting!
How energetic conductor!!!Wonderful!!!BRAVO!!!
The orchestra had a great chemistry with Salonen and these were halcion times. I remember that concert as the Proms at RAH as it had the most hip and with it audience in the world. The most hip stood the whole concert many reading their miniature scores of the pieces we were playing in the former horse arena in front of the band. It was a ride down memory lane seeing all my colleagues again without the aging. Jeff Reynolds, former bass trombonist with the orchestra (1969-2006).
Thanks for this memory lane ride! ... Looking at the video again made me add a note in the info section apologizing for the fuzzy quality. As stated above, it came from a VCR video probably recorded at too slow a speed. Incidentally, the encore is available via this link ... ua-cam.com/video/f5A5BDTZj0I/v-deo.html
Legendary! Speed, emotions - simply dazzling!
My symphony is playing this. As a cellist I'm thrilled by all the 16th notes, but I just hope I can keep up… Great piece.
A fine, high-energy performance from one whom, we may confidently expect, has a feel for how it should go.
Of course, Lemminkainen was glad to get out of there, Tuonela, at a gallop. What a workout for the strings! I've loved this piece for 70+ years.
Listened to this performance again today, and the tempo is just right. More and more respect for m. Salonen. Glad he's going to San Francisco. Sorry I'm no longer there.
God, I wish I'd been there at that performance. I first fell in love with this piece when I got it out of Blackhall Colliery Library in County Durham in about 1972. That I, a lad from a colliery village, son of a coal-miner, should have the chance to encounter such thrilling music, for FREE, is one of the triumphs of the Labour Party. It's one of the legacies of Nye Bevan, Kier Hardie, Clement Attlee, Stafford Cripps, and I am profoundly grateful.
Awesome!
Just love it. Very exciting, never heard it at this tempo but it sure works!!
That English horn player just retired 3 days ago. Bravo, Carolyn Hove!
Sad to see some of those musicians that ate no longer with us.
The tempi are just a tad too fast in my opinion. Superb performance from a great conductor, who appears so young and handsome in this video.
He's no faster than Eugene Ormandy.
Tempi too fast ? But Lemminkainen is back, Mighty Lord !
Sure is fast, but I like it, really enjoyable.
Is it just me, or is Salonen taking this extra fast?
Yes he does, but I think he's right. Lemminkainen's return is a great moment of enthousiasm.
+Charles Hsueh Comparing this to the performance by Saraste (WDR symphony orchestra), this one certainly picks up the speed. But it gives the whole piece a drive that I think Sibelius intended.
+Charles Hsueh It gets a bit sloppy and rushed in the end, though.
It is the way I enjoy this piece, which is full of happyness and triumph.
+Charles Hsueh Salonen no doubt is taking it very fat, but that is not very strange, when we know, that he is a Finn. The Finnish tradition is to keep the tempo in this fourth part fast and aggressive. Lemminkäinen is here retuning home, but not alone. He has a mighty army with him. and that power, violence and the passion of war should be heard in the performance.
the fastest I've ever heard.
i don't understand how salonen's shoulder still works
🤣
A lot of training
Is it his return "from the place of death"?
Yes
Less fast, this piece is boring me. Thank you Monsieur Salonen.
Piece, not peace
@@randykangas9390 Thanks ! Don't understand how I could make such a mistake ! May be I was drunk.
Unfortunately I have to say I've heard better versions of this. Maybe its the production.
See if you like Morton Gould's recording any better ...
ua-cam.com/video/c1q3JvAmi-o/v-deo.html
:))
God, what a dash, must be running late, no rhythm, no shape. Nothing!
Nonsense.Tempo is just how it should be,and how it was done in Sibelius´lifetime.Listen to Jensen´s,beecham´s and Ormandy´s mono recordings.
Dear Keith, what would be your preferred interpretation of Lemminkäinen, keeping in mind that Salonen should know his Sibelius and Los Angeles Philharmonic is one of the most valued orchestras of US?
Plenty of rhythm, and the shape is a marvel. Sibelius knew exactly what he was doing, using musical pulses, fragments of melody first from one section, then another, to move the piece forward. An amazing bit of orchestration.
Keith Beethoven would say the same...
Rouvali shapes the music better.