Elgar: Symphony No 2, Sospiri, Elegy Op 58

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo

BIS 1879     63’54

Sakari Oramo has an innate feel for Elgar. His anniversary performances in Birmingham of the oratorios were among the finest I can recall. This new recording fully supports my memory of those events. Where many conductors can make the second symphony seem dense and even oppressive, Sakari Oramo brings clarity and light throughout. Time and time again it is the balance of voices we are aware of rather than the almost Brahmsian impact which can result. The Rondo is particularly impressive. The movement can easily seem confused or skittish but here every nuance is allowed to blossom and flourish no matter how fleetingly.

The disc also includes delicate versions of Sospiri and the less familiar Elegy for strings. BH

Sibelius: Symphonies No 1 & 4

Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vanska

BIS 1879     74’10

It is interesting to compare these new recordings with those Osmo Vanska made with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. In the intervening years his approach to Sibelius seems to have become leaner and more intense. In the new recording the symphonies are marginally shorter, but more than that, there is an urgency in them which is not reflected in the original Finnish recordings. The first symphony seems less obviously romantic, looking forward rather than backwards, and the fourth is so bleak that at times it almost disappears into thin air. However, these are fine and totally convincing interpretations, and his new orchestra have many splendid solo musicians amongst their numbers. BH