In the early days of digital reproduction, some companies indulged in hyperbole to promote the exceptional benefits of the new compact disc. The glaring red warning label on this 1984 BIS release of Sibelius' Symphony No. 6, Op. 104, and Pelleas and Melisande, Op. 46, is an attempt to prepare the listener for extraordinary acoustic marvels and to make the CD's sound quality seem more stunningly realistic than analog. That is far from the reality, though, and the caveat -- in four languages, no less! -- is a little silly when one actually hears this disc decades later: the sound overall is decent, and in some places quite fine, but somewhat lacking in natural resonance, occasionally muted, and generally much less striking than promised.
Neeme Järvi and the
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra deliver a brisk performance of the Sixth Symphony, in keeping with its brevity and sprightly neo-Classical character, and render Pelleas and Melisande with suitable ardor and pathos. (Fortunately,
Järvi's musicality and the
GSO's skills are always in service to the music, and never compromised for the sake of creating an audio extravaganza). Because these performances hold up well under scrutiny, this disc is still enjoyable and deserves a place in any collection. But take BIS' exaggerated advisory with a grain of salt.