Sibelius: Andante Festivo

Západočeský symfonický orchestr Mariánské Lázně
West-Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Marienbad

Pátek 10. října 2008
Friday October 10th 2008

Michael Roháč - dirigent

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sibelius
• Andante
• Festivo
• Marienbad
• Marianske
• Lazne
• Orchestra
• Strings

[Kurkikohtaus]

A few words in my own defence here...

The challenge with this piece that conductors face with respect to tempo is that Sibelius' own performance of it, the ONLY recording of Sibelius conducting his own music, chimes-in at about 6 minutes. Most performances one hears are about 4-and-a-half. While 6 minutes is almost unatainable, it is certainly a towering pinaccle of the composer's intentions that a conductor should at least take into consideration.

As for rubato... not here, no way.

[Steinbach1984]

The tempo is surely not too slow, I agree with rocmarin here. it makes the piece solemn and chorale-like. But the performance has a slight lack of schwung: there are too few variations in tempo and the dynamics are rather flat. Emotion-laden romantic music like this absolutely needs a strong rubato. Too bad that the timpani at the end are absent. But anyway, thanks for posting this moving piece!

[Kurkikohtaus]

To further the above point made about rubato:

This isn't emotion-laden romantic music, that's a mis-reading of the score and of the character of the piece. Also, Sibelius himself indicates very few dynamic differences, the ones I did were "pencilled-in" and very carefully at that.

I believe the charm of this piece lies in its straightforwardness and its calm solemnity. Too many liberties with dynamics and tempo in my opinion would turn it into post-romantic schlock.

We have Mahler for that.

[rocmarin]

Very nicely done. Most conduct this piece to up-tempo for my taste. It is more beautiful when given that sweetly melancholy, poignant quality. Not too many versions of Andante Festivo are this way. The Jaakko Kuusisto & Lahti Symphony Orchestra version in particular brings me to tears every time.

[ellandelachapelle]

Oh I forgot to say: this is the best modern interpretation of this piece I´ve ever heard. And just the right pace! (not to speak of the spooky feeling I STILL have. Of looking at Sibelius himself.)

[ellandelachapelle]

@Kurkikohtaus In my view this singular recording done by Sibelius himself (and broadcast live on New Year´s Day 1939, when every Finn was bound to hear it) was a gigantic summing up of the Finnish people. (or they spoke through him, if you will.) Best ever preparation for the coming hardships! (the Winter War in Nov.) 

[ellandelachapelle]

@Kurkikohtaus We have Mahler for that hahaha. (I love him too. But Sibelius didn´t .)

[Klemperer]

@Kurkikohtaus This is a highly intelligent remark. Funnily enough I just read a book about Sibelius in which the author Mäkelä claims that most conductors would play Sibelius much too slow. So your remark is much appreciated for me.

Sometimes listening to a piece in its own right is better than comparing. Otto Klemperer (my nick^^) often heard he conducted "too slow" - yet if you just listened, most of the time the tempo was "just right"...and showed new ways of the music.

[36tharmoredinfantry]

Oh yeh, very nice indeed.

[lewars1912]

@Kurkikohtaus I agree.

[StrawberrySong]

I thought the story with Sibelius' own recording was that he only got one partial run-through with the orchestra before recording for the radio station, so the extremely slow tempo was more of a precaution. I think this tempo is great for the hall you played in though.

[lafayette253]

i love the song we gotten first place on it ( quartet)

[nerdypoodle]

how he conducts the second violins at 2:21 is beautiful. gets your attention in such a gorgeous way. so moving!!

[LeRoiDelaRue]

@nickajeglin

Well they all stopped on time when that bloke stopped wavin his arms at the end of the music