Lenny’s first recording of Sibelius’ epic Second Symphony is one of the great ones: taut, exciting as hell, ideally timed, and very well played and recorded, particularly in this clean and clear remastering. It’s part of the Sibelius Two “troika” that also includes Barbirolli (Chesky) and Szell (Philips). Bernstein is particularly adept at getting the finale to sound grand without pomposity; too often its principal thematic material seems to come back one time too many. Here however, he invests the music with so much energy and purpose that you could listen to it 10 times around and never tire of it. Bernstein’s Luonnotar moves swiftly and atmospherically, and it’s played with great attention to color. Soprano Phyllis Curtin sounds either unsteady or unworldly, probably both, and I have to admit that I like the individuality of her timbre as well as her way with the text, though others may disagree. Speaking of the text, it’s not included, which is a disgrace. Lastly, we come to Bernstein’s much reissued performance of Pohjola’s Daughter, simply the best interpretation this piece has ever had. My god, this orchestra can play! It’s especially satisfying to note that amid all the excitement and brouhaha surrounding the recapitulation of the initial “spinning” music, Bernstein still takes care to see that the woodwinds aren’t drowned by the strings, as so many others do not. This is the sort of thing that separates the men from the boys, folks. Take note.
