Levi is too easily
forgotten amongst the welter of complete
Sibelius recordings. Who pays attention
to his versions when there is Maazel
(twice), Ashkenazy, Berglund (three
times mark you), Gibson, Colin Davis
(twice - just coming up to third time
around), Oramo (outstanding), Rattle,
Segerstam and so many others?
In fact Levi’s Sibelius
is well worth your attention. Anyone
who knows his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
disc coupling Sibelius 1 and 5 (Telarc
CD80246 - also reviewed
here) will not be surprised to hear
that the present disc presents a very
considerable reading of the Second Symphony.
This Second combines the opposite poles
of incendiary emotion (Beecham) and
ramrod-tight control (Karajan). Levi
delivers a reading that is pin-sharp
and deeply chiselled. I suppose some
may find this just too affected; too
self-consciously shaped. It is in fact
an inspirational performance and anyone
who picks this CD up on spec will feel
rewarded. After all, the tawnily magnificent
tone produced by those Cleveland hornists
is no common commodity. This is not
a mundane Sibelius 2. It stands in all
its individuality beside the great Seconds
including Ormandy’s Sony version and
Barbirolli’s ‘ice and fire’ with the
RPO on Chesky.
Even the tired and
over-played glories of Finlandia
take on an added glamour with Levi
and the Clevelanders although I would
not prefer this to the imposingly black-toned
Horst Stein version with, of all orchestras,
the Suisse Romande. Marc Mandel provides
a useful scene-setting note.
Strangely this disc
has had precious little critical commentary
perhaps it is the short-playing time;
the only real demerit now that this
splendid-sounding disc has dropped to
mid-price.
Rob Barnett
Cleveland Orchestra/Yoel Levi 