{"product_id":"4589538832223","title":"Jukka-Pekka Saraste - Sibelius : The 7 Symphonies \/ Helsinki Philharmonic - Import 3 CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJukka-Pekka Saraste\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e[“Sibelius’s Orchestra”: The Helsinki Philharmonic and Principal Conductor Saraste. Their third complete symphony cycle, created with the shared goal of reaching the pinnacle of excellence, is now available!]\n\nThe Helsinki Philharmonic, which premiered Sibelius’s Symphonies Nos. 1 through 6 and considers itself “Sibelius’s Orchestra,” They have released complete symphony cycle recordings with Berglund from 1982 to 1987 and with Segerstam from 2002 to 2004 (in Japan specifically, a live recording from their 1982 tour, conducted by Okko Kamm and Akio Watanabe, was also released). Saraste, who has served as the Helsinki Philharmonic’s chief conductor and artistic director since 2023, also recorded a complete symphony cycle with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra between 1987 and 1989. In 1993, he released a complete cycle recorded live in St. Petersburg. This marks the third recording of the complete cycle for both conductors.\nThis project, launched in 2023 as “Sibelius \u0026amp; Saraste” to coincide with Saraste’s appointment as chief conductor, initially aimed to capture on video a benchmark for contemporary Sibelius performances (as of April 2026, this footage is available on Stage+). Following the success of these performances, both parties decided to release their third complete symphony cycle on CD. However, at Saraste’s strong insistence, Symphony No. 1 was completely re-recorded (a different performance from the one on Stage+), and for Symphonies No. 2 and beyond, different takes from the video have been used in various sections. Recording and mastering were handled by the highly experienced Enno Maemets, who has produced numerous outstanding recordings, including Segerstam’s “Earthquake,” which garnered attention for its intense sound. Another appealing aspect is how it conveys the orchestra’s sense of scale and energy without compromising either.\nBorn in 1956, Saraste was in his late 60s at the time of recording. In video footage, his conducting style features broad arm movements and is energetic and dynamic. His conviction regarding these works comes through clearly. While the playing time is nearly identical to the 1993 recording with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the range of tempo and dynamics has expanded, and accents are more pronounced, resulting in a performance that feels more intricate and dramatic. At the same time, the inner voices are rendered more clearly, and the subtle movements of the woodwinds stand out even amidst passages where the strings sing the melody as a unified whole—a quality that makes it easier for the listener to share in Saraste’s understanding of Sibelius’s score.\nAlthough the orchestra’s tone is somewhat subdued, the performance is passionate. At the climax, the recording delivers a magnificent crescendo accompanied by a fiery sound, while also superbly capturing the movement of the lower registers. A dynamic complete set has been born that will likely go down in history as a milestone in the performance history of Sibelius.\nApplause following the performances of Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 is included.\nNaxos Japan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ondine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52699437170977,"sku":"4589538832223","price":4671.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4589538832223.jpg?v=1779022633","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4589538832223","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}