Sibelius Symphony No 2 LSO Anthony Collins

This extract comes from Beulah 14PD8 Collins Sibelius Cycle
Recorded between 1952 and 1955 the Hastings born Anthony Collins takes the London Symphony Orchestra on a journey through all seven symphonies. At times you can sense the orchestra are on the edge of their seats.
The four disc set contains:
Symphonies nos 1 to 7
Karelia Overture
Pohjola's Daughter
Nightride and Sunrise
Pelleas and Melisande - excerpts

Order today in any good record store or buy direct from Beulah at

http://collins.eavb.co.uk/

Tracks can be downloaded from iTunes. Use the link above and select iTunes.

" A Sibelius cycle that is yet to be bettered". - Sunday Telegraph (Aug 30th 2009)

"Still in a class of its own" - Patrick Waller Classical CD Reviews- March 2006 MusicWeb-International

Andrew Achenbach writes in The Gramophone for May 2006:
Anthony Collins' 1952-55 Sibelius cycle with the LSO for Decca has acquired something of a cult status over the decades. Personally, I've long held mixed feelings about this much vaunted venture so was profoundly grateful for the chance to renew acquaintance and see if my reactions would alter. Of course Kenneth Wilkinson's hugely vivid and tastefully balanced Kingsway Hall sound remains an enormous pleasure in itself. Beulah's thankfully non-interventionist transfers are slightly less smooth but have marginally more body and projection than Tony Hawkins' exemplary previous efforts for this same label.
Collins' readings possess a red-blooded fevour and thrusting energy to which many will rightly respond.


"This is music that should be in the hands of everyone" - Steve Nystrom in Classical Disc Digest April 1994

"The recordings that helped to bring Sibelius in from the cold in the fifties have stood the test of time" wrote Andrew Clements in The Guardian 14 Feb. 1997

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical

[berlinman46]

Many thanks-This is a complete Revelation to me I love Sibelius but have not heard the Collins set before, I shall investagate futher by buying this set many thanks

[A60stock]

When these recordings first appeared in the 1950s they quickly became the benchmark by which others were measured. With the advent of stereo recordings Collins was forgotten as mono went out of favour, but Ken Wilkinson's balance allows every detail of Anthony Collin's interpretation to shine.

The LSO may not have been the world's best orchestra at the time but they play for their former colleague as though they were playing this music for the first time.

Enjoy the set!

[superalbatross]

this is cult classic. My only reservation is I can't listen to the entirety of this masterpiece. Thanks for uploading the 1st movement anyway.

[JorPove]

Dado que Youtube transmite monofonicamente, se da la feliz coincidencia de que estos discos de los cincuenta suenan con una gran fidelidad que permite apreciar todos los instrumentos con gran facilidad, haciendo de las grabaciones de las obras de Sibelius un verdadero festin para el espiritu. A mi me recuerdan mis escuchas de esas epocas con la tecnologia de los tubos ,que no ha sido igualada por la miniaturizacion actual. Gracias.

[ericpaulpianist]

Belongs to the very best Sibelius I have heard, besides Barbirolli (compl. Symphonies) and this 2nd is on par with Szell. These Sibelius interpretations stood the test of time and are landmarks of idiomatic Sibelius performances.

Collins can build up extremely fast crescendos, sharp accents *and* subito piano (sforzandi), forward phrazing without rushing, sonorous instrumental blending without getting muddy and heavy (like Karajan does). This Sibelius 2nd I even prefer to Barbirolli.