Return of Lemminkainen (1)

It is not perhaps know enough: Sibelius composed nine symphonies! It is not I who will assign free nine, not seven; it is itself at the end of his life that suggested to count from his great work with vocal soloists and choir Kullervo, his op. 7Sibelius Symphony Kulle, Kullervo, and also add to the list of Lemminkainen Legends op. 22, created April 13, 1896 under the direction of the composer, even if subsequently revised.

Seventh, Ninth true of a musician who started with a choral symphony? That suggests.

Regarding the four Legends, there is hardly any possible doubt: the first, Lemminkainen and girls of the island, is an Allegro in sonata which acts first movement; the two middle parts, if they can be interchanged, are, first, a slow movement (the Swan of Tuonela) and also a kind of highly developed and highly original scherzo (Lemminkainen to Tuonela). The last time the Return of Lemminkainen, is a brief triumphant Finale. I do not know you, but for my part, I would place these Four Legends over the first two official symphonies. It includes the chemically pure anything that will make the price of Sibelius maturity.

This year Sibelius was not starting an exciting way to drive well and for my part I do not expect much from the kind Thomas Sondergard that has recently recorded the symphonies 2 & 7 Linn. But here we managed this cycle of Lemminkainen led by Hannu Lintu at the head of the Finnish Radio Orchestra of which he is now (since 2013) Music Director.

Concerning this work, it would probably be a good idea to Warner Classics resume version of this cycle by Eugene Ormandy in Philadelphia by EMI, very réputéeSibelius op.22 Four legends Eugene Ormandy, and is remembered that the same label Ondine has already recorded work with Leif SegerstamSibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite: Legends from the Kalevala 4 Op2; Tapiola Op112 and also with exciting Mikko Franck for his first disqueEn Saga op. 9 / Lemminkainen Suite op. 22. In my memory, disk Salonen Sony ignores all the promises of his work's concerts. Osmo Vänskä with that of BisSibelius; Lemminkainen Suite, very neat, has the advantage of proposing to supplement the original versions, particularly a Lemminkainen Return of a double duration compared to the final version.

Hannu Lintu (born in Rauma, Finland, 1967) opts for a combination of lightness, transparency and ranging from decidedly anti-romantic spirit (this is a music elements more than feelings). Everything looks great, despite a slight disappointment for the reserve Swan of Tuonela (mostly listening to other versions in parallel, or in concert Koussevitzky Mikko Franck), and although overall we can love more subjective approaches more feverish young Sibelius.

When the transition begins between the introduction and the allegro in the early 'Girls Island "is exactly meant making the price of this music: a contained energy just waiting to break free. The wood of this first time are a wonderful freshness. One can prefer the wide and triumphant way of Mikko Franck for this movement (a leader who takes significantly more time without ever getting stuck), it prevents. In Lemminkainen to Tuonela (the notice of this disc offers a completely erroneous characterization), Hannu Lintu raises a huge wave, perfectly captured by Ondine in its dynamic gradation: at the top, it's extraordinary power, before going to the mystery muted the central episode, then to new seismic tremors.

Return of Lemminkainen does well the effect of the irresistible advance of a resurrected. Slender and solar, interpretation immediately finds the right tone.

Pohjola's Daughter pushes the peremptory manner of the head to its final consequences and, at first at least, we regret a bit of legend What put a Robert KajanusSymphonies but the latest episodes fully convinced, everything ends strikingly returning to the silence.

This superb Lemminkainen, consistent in his approach, a lot of fun, especially in components I, III and IV of the cycle.