Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39

Sir Colin Davis' award-winning cycle of Sibelius's symphonies reaches its conclusion with the release of Symphonies Nos 1 & 4. Sibelius was still heavily influenced by Tchaikovsky when he composed his First Symphony although there are clear signs of him developing his own highly individual style. The Fourth Symphony, completed eleven years later consitutes a dark heart at the centre of his symphonic output, written shortly after he underwent treatment for cancer.

CONCERT REVIEWS:

"What makes Davis's Sibelius compelling is that he manages to have it both ways. He gives these fine players the encouragement to turn individual passages into moments of spineingling magic …But he never loses sight of the bigger objective,which is to pull together, bit by bit,the seemingly disparate themes …I doubt whether I shall ever hear an orchestra and conductor achieve a closer rapport in Sibelius" The Times

"Davis made it as taut and purposeful as the later symphonies, and as structurally cogent. It was certainly a vivid account,but Davis made details tell as much as the symphony's big tragic statements,and drew the thematic threads of the finale together with massive assurance” The Guardian