John Storgards, BBC Philharmonic - Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (2014)

The Finnish maestro John Storgårds, Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, presents his first recording on Chandos, a complete symphonic cycle of his nation’s greatest musical export, Jean Sibelius. The triumphant premieres of Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2, with their big tunes and great romantic sweep, established the international reputation of Sibelius as a symphonist, some audiences even considering him Beethoven’s natural successor. The symphonies that followed chart Sibelius’s development as one of the most individual composers of the early twentieth century. Each symphony has its unique approach, whether it be the classicism of the Third, the brooding modernism of the Fourth, or the icy stillness of the Sixth, so evocative of the Finnish landscape.

The Symphony No. 7 in C major represents Sibelius’s greatest achievement in the symphonic form. In it he compresses the grand emotional sweep of a symphony into one startlingly original movement lasting little over twenty minutes.

Illness prevented Sibelius from completing any major works in the last thirty years of his life. Manuscripts show, however, that he never stopped composing. Recorded here are three orchestral fragments prepared by Timo Virtanen from late sketches thought to be for Sibelius’s legendary ‘lost’ 8th Symphony, destroyed by the composer in 1945. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the composer’s creative imagination during a time when impaired health inhibited Sibelius from realising his rich musical visions.

Composer: Jean Sibelius
Conductor: John Storgårds
Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Reviews: John Storgards is the most recent conductor to give us a complete cycle of the symphonies of Jean Sibelius. The BBC Philharmonic performs on the Chandos label in recordings made in 2012 and 2013. Three Late Fragments transcribed by Timo Virtanen rounds out the set of three discs. All the symphonies receive caring interpretations by Storgards, but as a whole, the set lacks the monumental element that is heard with other conductors. Perhaps the issue is youth, as Storgards picture on the cover of the box depicts him as mid 30's. I checked Wikapedia, and he is actually 50. Darn. That could have been a halfway reasonable excuse.

The individual symphonies are hits and misses, more the latter. Nos. 1 and 4 (Disc 1) are very good, but neither are great performances. I was unfamiliar with Three Late Fragments before listening to this recording. They are truly fragments, the longest of which is only 53 measures. They are clearly Sibelius but have little use except to those who must have everything Sibelius wrote.

Disc 2 contains the popular Symphonies 2 and 5. They receive good performances, but there is almost a timidity about them in comparison to competing recordings. These two symphonies give other conductors the chance to flex their muscle but not Storgards, who seems to miss most of the intensity within the music that others find. Not only that but, and no pun is intended, Storgards is stodgy where sweeping flow should be. This is not to say that there are not moments and passages where Storgards could hold his own against anyone. It's just that there aren't enough of them. One exception is the 3rd movement of Symphony 5 which is more intense and exciting than you come to expect from this conductor. The 4th movement, holds up the promise of its predecessor with some wonderful brass and bass work and with larger forces might have laid claim to "great." In the final measures, I should note, Storgards is a bit mannered. No. 5 is another largely successful performance but still lacks the intensity and monumental quality it deserves. In the lyrical 2nd movement, we again hear some stodginess rather than sweet flow. In the 3rd movement, Storgards starts to come alive but AGAIN there is plodding.

I was surprised at the energy with which Symphony 3 began at the start of Disc 3 of the set, and I wondered if Storgards could possibly keep up the excitement. Strange, but he did. The 1st movement is a delight, with more of the monumental quality than the other symphonies demonstrate. The 2nd movement is equally enjoyable with wonderful string, woodwind, flute, and piccolo playing. There are times, however, when the plucked strings are overdone. The final movement Andante is alive and the Allegro that follows has an agitation that is almost menacing at times. You can't help but wonder where Storgards has been hiding in the first two discs. This is one of the finest performances of this symphony that I have heard!

Symphony 6 continues the newfound intensity of No.3, and both were recorded a month and a half apart in late 2012 (Symphony 7 was recorded shortly thereafter). The 1st movement displays just the right amount of intensity without sacrificing the flow of the music. The 2nd movement follows in like kind. The 3rd movement is sharply etched and exciting despite its interpretive challenges. The final movement has a plaintive quality in the beginning that Storgards preserves in his interpretation. As the pace quickens, Storgards again stakes his claim certain, then allows the music to come to a gentle rest. Symphony 7's 1st movement opens darkly and continues profoundly without ever sacrificing the flow of the music. The 2nd movement Vivacissimo is just glorious and in no small part because of the superb strings and brass playing. The 3rd movement of this symphony is dominated by a happy, sweet and pastoral mood with glimpses of menace that serve as the beginning of the 4th movement. Swirling violins give way to increasing tension and ultimately to one of the more beautifully written emotional conclusions to a symphony ever composed. Violins introduce the final measures of musical indecision that resolves to major mode sublime resolution with brass, timpani, and finally violins.

The BBC Philharmonic plays like a world class orchestra by Disc 3, but takes their time getting to that point. In truth, something magical was present in the final four months of 2012, when Symphonies 3, 6, and 7 were recorded, that was absent six months later when the other symphonies were recorded. I must single out the orchestra's brass and strings, however, for performing above and beyond the call of duty. Sound is superb. Soundstage is excellent as is center fill. Strings are a bit weak, but that is likely due to inadequate numbers. This would have been a 3-Star recording and recommended only for those that must have everything to be happy if it were not for the symphonies of Disc 3 that raise its rating to 5-Stars. For Symphonies 3, 6, and 7 alone, this disc is VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!