Colin Davis was Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra from 1972 to 1984. During that time he made a successful
series of recordings which included an impressive Sibelius cycle
from which these recording originate and which now appear in remastered
sound.
Davis
understands the architechture of this music, controlling the ebb
and flow, and building the climaxes over a long time-span. In
these works - even the short 7th Symphony -
Sibelius gives his interpreter ample time to do what he has to
to make the music speak. These are strong, intelligent performances
and it is a pleasure to welome them in especially clear, remastered
sound.
The
5th Symphony is a very fine performance. The
first movement is allowed to grow organically, the music slowly
metamorphosing from gentleness to breathless rush; the final stretto
is particularly well handled. There is one strange thing – at
11:17 the trumpet fanfare is ruined by the worst kind of vibrato,
or braying, the kind of thing which was always blamed on brass
bands; it is soon passed, but it is a disturbing blemish. The
drums at the very end are particularly thrilling. The gentle variations
of the middle movement are handled with a very light touch – Davis
is perfect here. The finale seems a little rushed yet the tempo
works. The build-up to the famous hammer blows which end the work
is handled very well, the tension overwhelming until the first
chord. Most impressive. This is certainly a better thought out,
and executed, performance than the recent CFP reissue of the Symphony
by Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic.
The
7th Symphony is an even greater achievement.
The ghostly foreshadowing of the big climax is well done, subtle
and understated, as is the build-up to the first entrance of the
great trombone theme. There is a feeling of big things here, the
theme coming from the depths, monumental in its simplicity. The
many changes of mood and tempo all relate well to one another
and the final climax, beautiful in its starkness, is heart-stopping.
En
Saga is a fun piece with which to end, but do you really want something after
the 7th Symphony? – especially this performance,
a performance of such searching intensity? When will record companies
realise that the major work should come last so we can fully appreciate
the silence which follows and enjoy the moment of reverie. Having
said that, Davis gives a fine reading. I’ve never thought of En
Saga as a “deep” piece, surely it’s just a mightily enjoyable
romp. That’s how Davis does it – nothing profound here, just a
very enjoyable work played for all it is worth.
On occasion,
Davis plays with the tempo and pulls things round in order to
make his point but, as he is in total control of what he wants,
it never gets in the way of his interpretation and we can simply
enjoy the music. This is a disk well worth having for the superb
performances offered and the insights which Davis brings to the
music.
Bob Briggs
