This album represents the first time Sibelius’s First Symphony was recorded in the United States. It was performed in Minneapolis and conducted by Eugene Ormandy, who was the conductor of the city orchestra at the time. It marks the beginning of a long discographic relationship between the Hungarian conductor and the Finnish composer, one which would continue throughout his tenure in Philadelphia. He often returned to Sibelius’ work in the recording studio, right up until 1978 when he recorded his second version of Four legends from the Kalevala for EMI Classics. Ormandy worked on all of Sibelius’ symphonies (bar the Third, which he never conducted) and great symphonic poems (several times for Columbia, then for RCA).
This 1936 recording will leave a lasting impression on the Sibelius discography. The conductor finds the perfect balance between the score’s ferocity and its modern accents. It’s a far cry from Russian romanticism, that’s for sure! Ormandy makes the most of all the sonic textures, creating a piece of music that’s powerful yet intensely lyrical, much like Bernstein did a few decades later. What’s more, the remastering here is simply superb. This is an album that’s definitely worth a listen. © Pierre-Yves Lascar/Qobuz