Favorite Sibelius Tone Poem

[Mirror Image]

A very hard, somewhat impossible task, but my 5 favorite Sibelius tone poems (in no particular order):

1. Pohjola's Daughter
2. Kullervo
3. The Oceanides
4. Lemminkäinen Suite
5. Tapiola

Okay, your turn.

[audiophilia]

Easy.

Pohjola's Daughter.

Fabulous.

Da rest.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by audiophilia

Easy.

Pohjola's Daughter.

Fabulous.

Da rest.

"Pohjola's Daughter" is unearthly. Fantastic piece of music. What's your favorite reading of it? Mine would be a toss-up between Leif Segerstam/Helsinki Phil., Colin Davis/LSO, Vanska/Lahti Symp., and Berglund/Bournemouth Sym. It's hard to pick just one!

[Conor71]

I would say:
1. The Bard
2. Night-Ride & Sunrise
3. The Oceanides
4. Pohjola's Daughter
5. Luonnotar
For performances of these pieces I really like Neeme Jarvi's with the Gothenburg SO, mostly for the great sound quality :

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by Conor71

I would say:
1. The Bard
2. Night-Ride & Sunrise
3. The Oceanides
4. Pohjola's Daughter
5. Luonnotar
For performances of these pieces I really like Neeme Jarvi's with the Gothenburg SO, mostly for the great sound quality :

"The Bard" and "Luonnotar" are such great pieces. I like "Nightride and Sunrise" too. It's really hard picking favorite tone poems as they're all of high quality. I never cared much for "Finlandia," but in capable hands like Berglund, Vanska, and Segerstam the piece sounds great.

Jarvi is a good Sibelius conductor, but the more I listen to the conductors mentioned above, the more I realize how ordinary Jarvi's readings sound, but he's still good and heck of a lot better than Colin Davis or Barbirolli.

[haydnguy]

So far in my listening, The Oceanides. Fantastic Piece!!!!

[haydnguy]

Originally Posted by haydnguy

So far in my listening, The Oceanides. Fantastic Piece!!!!

I have to amend what I posted earlier about my favorite tone poem. I just discovered that what I was listening to was NOT 'The Oceanides' but a cantata called 'Oma maa', Op. 92.

I looked at what was labeled in media player and the piece was mislabeled. This is the second time this has happened to me so I will no longer depend on that but what the booklet says in the set.

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by haydnguy

I have to amend what I posted earlier about my favorite tone poem. I just discovered that what I was listening to was NOT 'The Oceanides' but a cantata called 'Oma maa', Op. 92.

I looked at what was labeled in media player and the piece was mislabeled. This is the second time this has happened to me so I will no longer depend on that but what the booklet says in the set.

Yes, "The Oceanides" does not have any vocals. It's a purely instrumental work, which you should definitely hear, if you haven't already.

[haydnguy]

Originally Posted by Mirror Image

Yes, "The Oceanides" does not have any vocals. It's a purely instrumental work, which you should definitely hear, if you haven't already.

hehe, I thought you were going to say "Can't you tell a cantata from a Tone Poem??"

[Mirror Image]

Originally Posted by haydnguy

hehe, I thought you were going to say "Can't you tell a cantata from a Tone Poem??"

Nah...I wasn't going to say that, because sometimes it is actually hard to tell. I mean you wouldn't think "Luonnotar" is a tone poem, but it certainly is.