Bad Sibelius in a very thin performance
Clive S. Goodwin | 08/18/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Salonen is a pretty good Sibelius conductor, but this orchestra is not very good. The brass in particular is weak and badly intoned. I know this symphony well from many notable recordings, and the balances here are off, as are the slow tempi in the first and third movements. The finale is anticlimactic - maybe this group is just too small in number. THe female tympanist is excellent, and the woodwinds are good, too, but the strings are very under-nourished. This DVD is only 56 mins. long, very poor value,and this includes an inconsequential piece of Salonen's. The only sound offered is stereo, almost unheard of in new recordings, no surround at all!"
Salonen fans need not hesitate
Martin R. Lash | Sister Bay, Wisc | 09/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a DVD recording of Salonen conducting a very good youth orchestra in his wonderful "LA Variations" and the Sibelius 5th. Its great to have his LA Variations on DVD and to see him conduct it. He is a great composer and this is one of his best. Now that he has left the LA Phil I am hoping he will create more music. The Sibelius is also wonderful. He gets fierce playing from the orchestra and the end of the first movement is very exciting. A great DVD. This is not a "thin" performance. No way."