|
14PD8 Collins' Sibelius
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
The Sunday Telegraph (August 30th 2009) review of the 100 best classical music discs wrote:
" Collins had made his name composing scores for the RKO studios, earning three Oscar nominations, before Victor Olof invited him to record with the London Symphony Orchestra. The result was a Sibelius cycle that is yet to be bettered."
"Still in a class of its own" - Patrick Waller Classical CD Reviews- March 2006 MusicWeb-International
Andrew Achenbarch 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 |
The brilliance, clarity and presence of these recordings made by the legendary balance engineer Kenneth Wilkinson spurred the remastering team lead by Simon Heyworth at Super Audio Mastering to reproduce on these compact discs a sound which when played through a single loudspeaker either directly in front of the listener or from a corner reflex cabinet will propel the listener into the Kingsway Hall with its live acoustic, and the London Symphony orchestra of the 1950s. They sound pretty good through two speakers, but the advantage of using a single speaker is that you will hear the original balance without any phase problems or side effects.
available as a boxed set, four discs for the price of three. £29.85 Place an order now . [ORDER ON LINE] [iTunes]
or phone Priory Records 01525 377566
| PayPal customers use this box
|
This album is not available for sale to North America
|
We're backing Britain
