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The Essential Sibelius

Box Set

Various Artists (Artist), Jean Sibelius (Composer), Osmo Vänskä (Conductor), Format: Audio CD
4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39: 1. Andante, Ma Non Troppo - Allegro Energico
2 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39: 2. Andante (Ma Non Troppo Lento)
3 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
4 Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39: 4. Finale (Quasi Una Fantasia). Andante - Allegro Molto
5 Symphony No. 4 in a Minor, Op. 63: 1. Tempo Molto Moderato, Quasi Adagio
6 Symphony No. 4 in a Minor, Op. 63: 2. Allegro Molto Vivace
7 Symphony No. 4 in a Minor, Op. 63: 3. Il Tempo Largo
8 Symphony No. 4 in a Minor, Op. 63: 4. Allegro

Disc: 2

1 Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: 1. Allegretto
2 Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: 2. Tempo Andante, Ma Rubato
3 Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: 3. Vivacissimo - Attacca -
4 Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: 4. Finale. Allegro Moderato
5 Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: 1. Allegro Moderato
6 Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: 2. Andantino Con Moto, Quasi Allegretto
7 Symphony No. 3 in C Major, Op. 52: 3. Moderato - Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)

Disc: 3

1 Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: 1. Tempo Molto Moderato - Allegro Moderato
2 Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: 2. Andante Mosso, Quasi Allegretto
3 Symphony No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 82: 3. Allegro Molto - Largamente Assai
4 En Saga, Tone Poem for Orchestra, Op. 9
5 Pohjola's Daughter (Pohjolan Tytär), Symphonic Fantasy for Orchestra, Op. 49
6 Valse Triste, for Orchestra (From Kuolema), Op. 44/1
7 Finlandia, Tone Poem for Orchestra, Op. 26

Disc: 4

1 Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104: 1. Allegro Molto Moderato
2 Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104: 2. Allegretto Moderato
3 Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104: 3. Poco Vivace
4 Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104: 4. Allegro Molto
5 Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105
6 Tapiola, Tone Poem for Orchestra, Op. 112

Disc: 5

1 Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 1. Allegro Moderato
2 Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 2. Adagio Di Molto
3 Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47: 3. Allegro, Ma Non Tanto
4 Earnest Melodies (2), for Cello & Orchestra, Op. 77: 1. Cantique (L'tare Anima Mea)
5 Earnest Melodies (2), for Cello & Orchestra, Op. 77: 2. Devotion (Ab Imo Pectore)
6 Serenades (2), for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 69: No. 1 in D Major
7 Serenades (2), for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 69: No. 2 in G minor
8 Humoresques (2) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 87B: No. 1 in D minor
9 Humoresques (2) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 87B: No. 2 in D Major
10 Humoresques (4) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 89: No. 3 in G minor
11 Humoresques (4) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 89: No. 4 in G minor
12 Humoresques (4) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 89: No. 5 in E Flat Major
13 Humoresques (4) for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 89: No. 6 in G minor

Disc: 6

1 Kullervo, Symphonic Poem for Vocal Soloists, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 7: 1. Introduction. Allegro Moderato
2 Kullervo, Symphonic Poem for Vocal Soloists, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 7: 2. Kullervo's Youth. Grave
3 Kullervo, Symphonic Poem for Vocal Soloists, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 7: 3. Kullervo and His Sister. Allegro Vivace
4 Kullervo, Symphonic Poem for Vocal Soloists, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 7: 4. Kullervo Goes to War. Alla Marcia [Allegro Molto] - V
5 Kullervo, Symphonic Poem for Vocal Soloists, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 7: 5. Kullervo's Death. Andante

Disc: 7

1 The Wood Nymph (Skogsrået), Tone Poem ('Ballade') for Orchestra, Op. 15
2 Lemminkäinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for Orchestra, Op. 22: 1. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island
3 Lemminkäinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for Orchestra, Op. 22: 2. the Swan of Tuonela
4 Lemminkäinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for Orchestra, Op. 22: 3. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela
5 Lemminkäinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for Orchestra, Op. 22: 4. Lemminkäinen's Return

Disc: 8

1 Karelia Suite, for Orchestra, Op. 11: 1. Intermezzo
2 Karelia Suite, for Orchestra, Op. 11: 2. Ballade
3 Karelia Suite, for Orchestra, Op. 11: 3. Alla Marcia
4 Scènes Historiques I (3), Suite for Orchestra, Op. 25: 1. All'overtura
5 Scènes Historiques I (3), Suite for Orchestra, Op. 25: 2. Scena
6 Scènes Historiques I (3), Suite for Orchestra, Op. 25: 3. Festivo
7 Song of the Athenians (Atenarnes SÅNG), for Boys' Chorus, Male Chorus, Winds & Percussion (Or Orchestra), Op. 31/3
8 The Origin of Fire (Tulen Synty), for Voice, Male Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 32
9 The Captive Queen (Vapautettu Kuningatar), Cantata for Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 48
10 Rakastava (The Lover), Suite for String Orchestra, Triangle & Timpani, Op. 14: 1. the Lover
11 Rakastava (The Lover), Suite for String Orchestra, Triangle & Timpani, Op. 14: 2. the Path of His Beloved
12 Rakastava (The Lover), Suite for String Orchestra, Triangle & Timpani, Op. 14: 3. Good Evening!... Farewell!
13 Andante Festivo, for String Orchestra (Arranged from String Quartet Version)

Disc: 9

1 King Christian II (Kung Kristian II), Orchestral Suite, Op. 27: 1. Nocturne
2 King Christian II (Kung Kristian II), Orchestral Suite, Op. 27: 2. Elegy
3 King Christian II (Kung Kristian II), Orchestral Suite, Op. 27: 3. Musette
4 King Christian II (Kung Kristian II), Orchestral Suite, Op. 27: 4. Serenade
5 King Christian II (Kung Kristian II), Orchestral Suite, Op. 27: 5. Ballad
6 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 1. at the Castle Gate
7 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 2. Mélisande
8 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 2A. at the Seashore
9 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 3. By a Spring in the Park
10 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 4. the Three Blind Sisters
11 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 5. Pastorale
12 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 6. Mélisande at the Spinning Wheel
13 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 7. Entr'acte
14 Pelléas Et Mélisande, Incidental Music for Orchestra, Op. 46: 8. the Death of Mélisande
15 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: The Oak Tree
16 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Humoresque
17 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Caliban's Song
18 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Intrada - Berceuse
19 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Entr'acte - Ariel's Song
20 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Chorus of the Winds
21 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Intermezzo
22 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Dance of the Nymphs
23 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Prospero
24 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: Miranda
25 The Tempest, Incidental Music for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, Orchestra & Harmonium, Op. 109: The Storm

Disc: 10

1 Snöfrid, Improvisation for Reciter, Male Voices & Orchestra, Op. 29
2 The Bard (Barden), Tone Poem for Orchestra, Op. 64
3 The Oceanides (Aallottaret), Tone Poem for Orchestra, Op. 73
4 Luonnotar (The Spirit of Nature), Tone Poem for Voice & Orchestra, Op. 70
5 The Broken Voice (Sortunut Ääni), Partsong for (Or Mixed) Male Chorus, Op. 18/7
6 The Boat Journey (Venematka), Partsong for Male Chorus, Op. 18/9
7 The Song of My Heart (Sydämeni Laulu), Partsong for Male Chorus, Op. 18/6
8 Rakastava (The Lover), Suite for String Orchestra, Triangle & Timpani, Op. 14
9 To the Fatherland (Isänmaalle), Partsong for Male Chorus, Op. 18/1
10 Fire on the Island (Saarella Palaa), Partsong for Male Chorus, Op. 18/3
11 We Praise Thee, Our Creator (Soi Kunniaksi Luojan), for Chorus, Op. 23/6A
12 People of Land & Sea (MÄN FRÅN Slätten Och Havet), Partsong for Chorus, Op. 65/1
13 To Sea (Till Havs), Partsong for Male Chorus, Op. 84/5
14 Fridolin's Folly (Fridolins Dårskap), for Male Chorus, JS 84
15 Jonas' Journey (Jone Havsfärd), for Male Chorus, JS 100
16 Jager March (Jääkärien Marssi), for Male Chorus & Piano (Or Brass Septet or Orchestra), Op. 91A
17 Finlandia Hymn (Finlandia Hymni), for Chorus & Organ (Or Harmonium), Op. 113/12

Disc: 11

1 Black Roses (Svarta Rosor), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 36/1
2 But My Bird Is Long in Homing (Men Min Fågel MÄRKS Dock Icke), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 36/2
3 Sigh, Sedges, Sigh (SÄV, SÄV, Susa), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 36/4
4 To Evening (Illalle), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 17/6
5 I'm Feld Ein Mädchen Singt (A Maiden Yonder Sings), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 50/3
6 Aus Banger Brust (O, Wert Thou Here), Song for Voice & Piano (Or Orchestra), Op. 50/4
7 Die Stille Stadt (The Silent Town), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 50/5
8 Spring Is Flying (Våren Flyktar Hastigt) Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 13/4
9 And I Questioned No Further (Se'n Har Jag Ej Frågat Mera), Song for Voice & Piano (Or Orchestra), Op. 17/1
10 Autumn Evening (HÖSTKVÄLL), for Voice & Piano (Or Orchestra), Op. 38/1
11 Arioso, for Voice & Orchestra, Op. 3
12 The Water Sprite (Nåcken), Songs (2) As Incidental Music for Voice, Violin, Cello & Piano (Wriiten with Martin Wegelius), JS 138
13 We Ask for Nothing Rich or Rare (Giv Mig Ej Glans), for Voice & Piano, Op. 1/4
14 I Am a Tree (Jag ÄR Ett TRÄD), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 57/5
15 Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable, Song for Voice & Piano
16 The Echo Nymph (Kaiutar), Somg for Voice & Piano, Op. 72/4
17 Longing Is My Heritage (Längtan Heter Min Arvedel), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 86/2
18 Ye Sisters, Ye Brothers (I Systrar, I Bröder), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 86/6
19 The Diamond on the March Snow (Demanton PÅ Marssnön), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 36/6
20 The Fool's Song of the Spider, Song for Voice & Piano (Arranged from King Christian II), Op. 27/4
21 On a Balcony By the Sea (PÅ Verandan Vid Havet), for Voice & Piano (Or Orchestra), Op. 38/2
22 Come Away, Death (Kom Nu Hit, DÖD!), for Voice, Harp & String Orchestra (Twelfth Night No. 1), Op. 60/1
23 Row, Row Duck (Souda, Souda, Sinisorsa), for Voice & Piano
24 The North (Norden), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 90/1
25 Narcissus, Song for Voice & Piano
26 The First Kiss (Den Förste Kyssen, II), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 37/1
27 Was It a Dream? (Var Det en DRÖM), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 37/4
28 Flickan Kom Ifrån Sin Älsklings Möte (The Maid Returned from Meeting Her Lover), Song for Voice & Piano, Op. 37/5
29 The Thought (Tanken), Duo for 2 Voices & Piano

Disc: 12

1 Moderato-Allegro Appassionato, for String Quartet in C Sharp minor, JS 131
2 String Quartet in A minor, JS 183: 1. Andante - Allegro
3 String Quartet in A minor, JS 183: 2. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
4 String Quartet in A minor, JS 183: 3. Vivace
5 String Quartet in A minor, JS 183: 4. Allegro
6 String Quartet in D minor ('Voces Intimae'), Op. 56: 1. Andante - Allegro Molto Moderato
7 String Quartet in D minor ('Voces Intimae'), Op. 56: 2. Vivace
8 String Quartet in D minor ('Voces Intimae'), Op. 56: 3. Adagio Di Molto
9 String Quartet in D minor ('Voces Intimae'), Op. 56: 4. Allegretto (Ma Pesante)
10 String Quartet in D minor ('Voces Intimae'), Op. 56: 5. Allegro

Disc: 13

1 Piano Trio in D minor ('Korpo Trio'; Unfinished), JS 209: 1. Allegro Moderato
2 Piano Trio in D minor ('Korpo Trio'; Unfinished), JS 209: 2. Fantasia. Andante - Adagio - Molto Adagio - Andantino - Moderato - Andan
3 Piano Trio in D minor ('Korpo Trio'; Unfinished), JS 209: 3. Finale. Vivace
4 Piano Quintet, for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano in G minor, JS 159: 1. Grave - Allegro
5 Piano Quintet, for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano in G minor, JS 159: 2. Intermezzo. Moderato
6 Piano Quintet, for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano in G minor, JS 159: 3. Andante
7 Piano Quintet, for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano in G minor, JS 159: 4. Scherzo. Vivacissimo
8 Piano Quintet, for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano in G minor, JS 159: 5. Moderato - Vivace
9 La Pompeuse Marche D'asis, for Violin, Cello & Piano, JS 116

Disc: 14

1 Water Drops (Vattendroppar), for Violin & Cello, JS 216
2 Andante Cantabile, for Piano & Harmonium in E Flat Major, JS 30B
3 Andante Cantabile, for Violin & Piano in G Major, JS 33
4 Sonata for Violin & Piano in F Major, JS 178: 1. [Allegro]
5 Sonata for Violin & Piano in F Major, JS 178: 2. Andante
6 Sonata for Violin & Piano in F Major, JS 178: 3. Vivace
7 Malinconia, for Cello & Piano, Op. 20
8 Pieces (4) for Violin & Piano, Op. 78: 1. Impromptu
9 Pieces (4) for Violin & Piano, Op. 78: 2. Romance in F Major
10 Pieces (4) for Violin & Piano, Op. 78: 3. Religioso
11 Pieces (4) for Violin & Piano, Op. 78: 4. Rigaudon
12 Sonatina, for Violin & Piano in E Major, Op. 80: 1. Lento - Allegro
13 Sonatina, for Violin & Piano in E Major, Op. 80: 2. Andantino
14 Sonatina, for Violin & Piano in E Major, Op. 80: 3. Lento - Allegretto
15 Cinq Danses Champétres (5), for Violin & Piano, Op. 106: 1. Largamente Assai - Vivace

Disc: 15

1 Florestan, Suite for Piano, JS 82: 1. Moderato
2 Florestan, Suite for Piano, JS 82: 2. Molto Moderato
3 Florestan, Suite for Piano, JS 82: 3. Andante
4 Florestan, Suite for Piano, JS 82: 4. Tempo I
5 Impromptu, for String Orchestra in B minor (Arrangement of Piano Work), Op. 5/5
6 Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12: 1. Allegro Molto
7 Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12: 2. Andantino
8 Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 12: 3. Vivacissimo
9 Pieces (10) for Piano, Op. 24: 9. Romance in D Flat Major
10 Kyllikki, Lyric Pieces (3) for Piano, Op. 41: 1. Largamente - Allegro
11 Kyllikki, Lyric Pieces (3) for Piano, Op. 41: 2. Andantino
12 Kyllikki, Lyric Pieces (3) for Piano, Op. 41: 3. Commodo
13 Sonatina No. 1, for Piano in F Sharp minor, Op. 67/1: 1. Allegro
14 Sonatina No. 1, for Piano in F Sharp minor, Op. 67/1: 2. Largo
15 Sonatina No. 1, for Piano in F Sharp minor, Op. 67/1: 3. Allegro Moderato
16 Sonatina No. 2, for Piano in E Major, Op. 67/2: 1. Allegro
17 Sonatina No. 2, for Piano in E Major, Op. 67/2: 2. Andantino
18 Sonatina No. 2, for Piano in E Major, Op. 67/2: 3. Allegro
19 Sonatina No. 3, for Piano in B Flat minor, Op.67/3: 1. Andante - Allegro Moderato
20 Sonatina No. 3, for Piano in B Flat minor, Op.67/3: 2. Andante - Allegro
21 Pieces (5) for Piano ('The Trees'), Op. 75: 2. Den Ensamma Furan (The Solitary Fir Tree)
22 Pieces (5) for Piano ('The Trees'), Op. 75: 5. Granen (The Spruce)
23 Morceaux Romantiques (5) (Romantic Pieces), for Piano Op. 101: 5. Scène Romatique
24 Characteristic Impressions (5), for Piano, Op. 103: 1. the Village Church

Editorial Reviews

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Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ German
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.53 x 1.62 x 5.29 inches; 14.56 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ BIS
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 7365404
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2006
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ July 20, 2010
  • Label ‏ : ‎ BIS
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000KC849W
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 4
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Golfing Fool
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Sibelius
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It was an amazing box set with most all music and great recordings AND great CDs. I would buy another for friends as a gift!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paul Hannah
    5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful box set ! These are the absolute best recordings of his symphonies and I have heard many !
    3 people found this helpful
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  • JohnK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Sibelius Set
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2017
    This is an outstanding set sampling BIS's complete edition of Sibelius's works. All of the symphonies and Kullervo are included, along with many tone poems, the violin concerto, chamber music, songs, and piano pieces. The recorded sound is absolutely marvelous throughout and the performances are top-drawer. The value of this set is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of the songs, chamber music and piano pieces, which are very appealing and will be new to most listeners. The Davis/RCA set and Berglund/Warner(EMI) set are options for the orchestral music, but do neither offers the vocal and chamber music. Notes are included and the price is eminently affordable.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Tero
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bargain hits plus rarer works
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2015
    This set has all of the Vänskä Lahti symphonies and most of the tone poems. Vocal and piano plus chamber fill up the rest of the discs. If you were to buy the symphonies and tone poems and Lemminkäinen suite etc on BIS, it would run you the 65 dollars. 15 discs total. For some reason Amazon has listed this twice. More reviewers appear under the more expensive listing of the very same item.

    Discs come in paper envelopes. Booklet in many languages.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Ian Richardson
    5.0 out of 5 stars BIS's finest moment (so far?)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    Robert von Bahr, the MD of BIS records, has spent the best part of his career recording everything written by Sibelius. Many first recordings and alternative versions of the most popular pieces have been recorded over the years. As a prelude to the complete edition, we have this fifteen-disc "taster" offered for the price of 4 discs. Since the Amazon listing gives away so little, I will list most of what is on the discs
    Disc 1 - 4: The complete symphonies with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska. Tapiola, En Saga, Pohjola's Daughter, Valse Triste and Finlandia fill the gaps.
    Disc 5, with the same forces and the Violinist Leonidas Kavakos and Cellist Marko Ylonen, give us the Violin concerto and the two Serious Melodies. Also included are the two serenades and six humoresques, this time played by Dong Suk Kang with the Gothenburg SO under Neeme Jarvi.
    Disc 6: Kullervo
    Disc 7: The Wood Nymph and the Lemminkainen Suite, both of these are with the Lahti SO and forces directed by Vanska.
    Disc 8:The Karelia Suite and the Scenes Historiques from the Gothenburg SO and Jarvi alongside several vocal and orchestral pieces from the Lahti SO and Vanska. These include the wonderful Tulen Synty, Andante Festivo and the orchestral version of Rakastava.
    Disc 9: Three atmospheric scores of incidental music; King Christian II, Pelleas & Melisande and the Tempest from the Gothenburg SO and Jarvi.
    Disc 10: Some larger scale tone poems (The Bard, Oceanides and Luonnotar) with a strikingly brilliant choral work that was completely new to me: Snofrid. These four are from Vanska and his Lahti SO again. The rest of the disc has various choral songs from several sources, including the choral version of Rakastava (very different from the orchestral version).
    Disc 11: Songs at the piano from Anne Sofie von Otter and Monica Groop with Bengt Forsberg and Love Derwinger. Also some striking orchestral songs from Jorma Hynninen and Marianne Haggander with the Gothenburg SO under Jorma Panula.
    Disc 12: The great "Voces Intimae" string quartet with an early A minor work and the single-movement Moderato-Allegro played by the Tempera Quartet.
    Disc 13: More chamber music with Piano, including the Trio and Quintet.
    Disc 14: Various fine instrumental works, including the Violin Sonata from Jaakko Kuusisto and Folke Grasbeck; while the Four Pieces, Sonatina and Danses Champetre are given by Nils-Erik Sparf and Bengt Forsberg.
    Lastly Disc 15 presents ( for me, unfamiliar) music for Piano. Folke Grasbeck plays the early(ish) Florestan, Impromptu and Sonata. Sibelius's great champion and biographer, Erik Tawaststjerna plays the later Sonatinas, Kyllikki and other pieces.

    Although I have not yet listened to everything, I have to say that my first impressions are of wonderful music throughout, whether familiar or unfamiliar. For example; the choral cantata "Snofrid" was completely unknown to me but proved to be stunningly good. The choice of works, while not entirely "definitive", still contains almost everything that is remotely popular. (It seems a shame that room could not be found for “The Swan of Tuonela” or "Night Ride and Sunrise"). The more esoteric stuff is still fantastic.
    The performances are some of the very best that I have ever heard. The great orchestral works, concertos and incidental music are presented in performances that are as fine as anything else available and compellingly idiomatic (as you might expect from such forces). In general I would say that they are without exaggerated effects or self-conscious gestures. I am a big fan of Karajan's superb recordings of the late symphonies, which seem to me to be of a refinement and beauty that has never been matched. Even so, Osmo Vanska gives us something very special in his excellent pacing and the feeling of complete absorption in the drama and meaning of the music.
    The recordings are exceptionally good. I have always found the BIS "house sound" to be wholly natural and without any exaggerated highlighting. Some details are less "in your face" than you will hear from other brightly-lit or heavily engineered performances and bravo for that.
    It hardly needs pointing out that, for less than £50 on Amazon, this set represents the CD bargain of the decade. As if this were not enough, the 130 page booklet includes good introductions to the music, great photos and every sung text presented alongside an English translation. The only reason for not buying it immediately is if you are waiting for the complete edition.

    A 2012 update: Now I have listened to everything and it's even more marvellous than I thought. The performance of Kullervo is the best that I know and the chamber music, songs and piano music that I had never heard have been a revelation. I used to think of Sibelius as primarily a great symphonist, so these discoveries have transformed my view of this wonderful composer. It must be in your basket by now?
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  • Christian Gobert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interprétations extraordinaires
    Reviewed in France on June 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Malgré le fait que le téléchargement promis par Amazon soit juste un best of de 65 mn, je reviens sur mon avis et je mets 5 étoiles.
    En effet, c'est pour moi un coffret qui offre les meilleurs interprétations que je connaisse.
    Seul Omandy m'a donné et me donne autant de plaisir à l'écoute.
    Osmo Vanska et Neeme Jarvi sont de fabuleux interprètes, capables de nous plonger dans les plus infimes nuances de cette musique géniale.
    Et cerise sur le gateau, je n'achète plus de CD édités par DG depuis que le label refuse de traduire en français les textes de ses livrets et je me prive ainsi des cd de Jarvi...sauf que cette fois, Jarvi est ici sous un autre label, avec des textes traduits en français..
    Bravo !
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  • カラサワ
    5.0 out of 5 stars 透明感あふれるシベリウス
    Reviewed in Japan on February 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    高校の時以来四十年近くバルビローリを愛聴してきたので半信半疑でこの15枚セットを購入しましたが予想に反した透明感あふれる演奏に浸る事ができました。内容もこの枚数のわりに充実しています。ひさしぶりにいい買い物をしました。
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  • j edgar lloyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Masterworks!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    15 CD's of the most popular and widely-played Sibelius, selected from the 13-volume Sibelius Edition on BIS (complete for the first time), by one of the 3 greatest composers of the C.20th. And his star still rises!
    Here are some of the best recordings available of the symphonies and other instrumental music (inc. all the major tone poems, Kullervo, the Violin Concerto and the most popular of the theatre music in concert suites, except The Tempest which is only a handful of excerpts), played/sung/conducted by extremely well-regarded orchestras/choirs/conducters who are mostly all Finnish, which very evident here. The other pieces represent a cross-section of Sibelius' ouevre and include the best of the chamber music (string quartets), piano pieces and songs (both orchestral and unaccompanied).
    Unmissable for lovers of Western Art Music and lovers of thematic and deeply atmosheric music in general. If Janne was still with us he would be in great demand for film s.t.'s. Think L.O.T.R.,but much better. Just try it...
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  • G. McBeath
    5.0 out of 5 stars A bargain of the best.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A bargain that covers the major (including all the symphonies and tone poems) as well as many minor works of Sibelius played by some of his best interpreters and performers and recorded by BiS, a label that has been noted for the quality of its recordings and recording techniques. This is not a 'hit and miss' box set of 'main works of X', but a well-documented collection of performances by various orchestras et al. from the BiS stable, all of which have been regarded by the serious musical press as top league. Sibelius buffs can have fun disputing the merits of this or that performance knowing that what they are listening to anyway, can lay claim to be among the the best.
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