Firstly, I congratulate Pristine Audio for another very successful
release. Andrew Rose has completely transformed what was an
uncomfortable listen into a great document from one of the conducting
giants of the twentieth century.
Sibelius’s reputation in the late 1930s was very high.
Despite not writing the eagerly awaited “Eighth Symphony”
his music was played frequently. Pioneers including Robert Kajanus
and Thomas Beecham have left us lucky listeners with recordings
from those times although there are gaps. No recording seems
to exist of Klemperer who conducted the Second Symphony; I’d
love to hear it!
Toscanini conducted Sibelius infrequently in his latter days
and there are few recordings. The only two symphonies available
to record collectors are the Second and Fourth (also available
on Pristine PASC87). I’m not aware that he did any others.
He conducted the Second Symphony with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
at a concert on 9 June 1938 and this was available in 1990 on
EMI CD 63307 but EMI have not re-released it since. It can be
found on two labels: is “Maestro Celebre” and “Entertainment
Products”, the latter as a download from Amazon US. In
1939 and 1940 he conducted the work with his NBC Orchestra plus
several shorter pieces. The present 1940 performance, which
is for review, has also been issued on RCA as part of their
Toscanini Edition originally separately (Vol.21), and
recently in last year’s bargain Box set of 84 CDs RCA
791631. Naxos Historical also released it in 1998 (Naxos 8.110811)
but this now only available as a download. Strangely I can’t
find it on Naxos Music Library, although I have streamed it
from the French site Qobuz. All three companies added the 1940
Pohjola’s Daughter but whereas Naxos included performances
of the latter two from 1940, Pristine have used the 1939 recordings.
They explain that they have done this to get the best source
material. RCA, on the other hand, have a 1944 Swan and
a 1952 Finlandia.
Toscanini was a mere 73 at the time of these concerts and tremendous
drive and intensity is in evidence from the beginning. Pristine
have opened up the sound to such an extent that the listener
experiences a real feeling of being in the concert. Before playing
this I listened to the BBC recording from Spotify which is obviously
in inferior sound. The BBC SO from 1938 and Adrian Boult made
a formidable team and the orchestra plays splendidly. The sound
is so good on the New York recording that comparisons are difficult
but, My Word, they both play as if their lives depended on it.
The versions are fairly similar; timings are not as one would
expect: the fastest, the first movement, is half a minute slower
than Kajanus. Playing the RCA version I felt I was being steam-rollered
whereas on this transfer the orchestral sound is wonderfully
clear. I particularly liked the sublime second movement but
it’s all wonderful and we get to hear the well deserved
applause. I must confess not to be very familiar with Pohjola’s
Daughter but the playing is again very powerful and the
woodwind comes through very clearly. It avoids what Beecham
referred to as that “Sousa” effect that plagues
so many recordings from Studio 8H.
The Swan of Tuonela comes from 1939 and is quite simply
magical and makes one wish Toscanini had conducted more Sibelius;
his “Fifth” would have been quite something. The
NBC Orchestra was put together for Toscanini and their prowess
shines through. One of the criticisms of the “Maestro”
was his lack of humanity. I disagree and would use this piece
as an example of his softer side.Finlandia completes
the disc. Several versions exist. I love this piece and it’s
a splendid rendition. The introduction of the hymn tune is very
affecting. As with The Swan of Tuonela the sound is slightly
inferior to that of the first two works but it’s very
marginal. It’s a nice touch to have the radio announcer
at the end.
I had intended to compare other versions from this period but
in the end decided that Toscanini was unique, although he had
imitators; not the great Cantelli. Yet Sibelius’s genius
shines through every bar. This is very much for lovers of the
great conductor and of these marvellous works.
David R Dunsmore
Masterwork Index: Sibelius
Symphony 2
NBC Symphony Orchestra/Arturo Toscanini 