SARASTE CONDUCTS SIBELIUS (8 CDS)

Between 1987 and 1989, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra made an acclaimed complete recording for RCA Victor of the symphonies and other major works by their compatriot Sibelius. Sony Classical is now issuing them together for the first time in a budget-priced 8-album box set. Gramophone wrote that "these are impressive, well characterized performances... Saraste is very much the servant of the composer... Momentum and continuity and the placing of detail in the right perspective in relation to the overall architecture are paramount considerations in Sibelius, and Saraste maintains an impressive flow."

Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast Suite, Op. 51
Sibelius: En Saga, Op. 9
Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Sibelius: Four Humoresques Op. 89
Sibelius: Karelia Overture, Op. 10
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Sibelius: King Kristian II, incidental music, Op. 27
Sibelius: Kuolema, Op. 44
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen and the Island Maidens (from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22)
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen in Tuonela (from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22)
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen's Return (from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22)
Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela (from Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22)
Sibelius: Night Ride and Sunrise, Op. 55
Sibelius: Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49
Sibelius: Scènes historiques I, Op. 25
Sibelius: Scènes historiques II, Op. 66
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1-7
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
Sibelius: Tapiola, Op. 112
Sibelius: The Bard, Op. 64
Sibelius: The Oceanides, Op. 73
Sibelius: Two Humoresques Op. 87
Sibelius: Two Serenades, Op. 69 for violin and orchestra
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Joseph Swensen (violin)
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Jukka-Pekka Saraste