Smetana: The Moldau/ Liszt: Les Preludes/ Sibelius: Finlandia and Pe - new

Track ListingsHerbert von Karajan gave some first-rate Sibelius performances in the course of his long career, and these are two of the finest. The suite of incidental music from Pelleas is particularly successful. Sibelius's score, as befits the understated and dreamy mood of the play, is very subtle, but also quite beautiful. It's the kind of thing the Karajan always did well, since the music really responds to such lovely playing and sheet beauty of sound. Finlandia, of course, merely needs a good, rousing blast from the brass to make its proper effect, and Karajan delivers the goods. The other works are both well-done, making this a desirable collection if the couplings appeal to you.1Vltava (The Moldau)2Finlandia, op. 263Pelleas et Melisande, op. 464Pelleas et Melisande, op. 465Pelleas et Melisande, op. 466Pelleas et Melisande, op. 467Pelleas et Melisande, op. 468Pelleas et Melisande, op. 469Pelleas et Melisande, op. 4610Pelleas et Melisande, op. 4611Pelleas et Melisande, op. 4612Les Preludes

Herbert von Karajan gave some first-rate Sibelius performances in the course of his long career, and these are two of the finest. The suite of incidental music from Pelleas is particularly successful. Sibelius's score, as befits the understated and dreamy mood of the play, is very subtle, but also quite beautiful. It's the kind of thing the Karajan always did well, since the music really responds to such lovely playing and sheet beauty of sound. Finlandia, of course, merely needs a good, rousing blast from the brass to make its proper effect, and Karajan delivers the goods. The other works are both well-done, making this a desirable collection if the couplings appeal to you.