Great performances

Description

The world of music celebrates this year the 150th anniversary of the birth of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Decca has always played a significant role in promoting his work, just like that of Benjamin Britten. Today, this 11cd box set brings together some of the most legendary recordings of Sibelius from the Decca catalog of the mono period and the early days of stereo. Finally gathered, they provide a historical insight into how the works of the composer were interpreted during his lifetime, by musicians who received many tips from him; some of these recordings benefit from a first international edition on cd. It notably includes the Karelia Suite by Jensen, the violin concerto by Ricci and Fjeldstad, Tapiola and Finlandia by Eduard van Beinum, melodies by Birgit Nilsson and Bertil Bokstedt, as well as the famous cycle by Anthony Collins, one of the first complete recordings of the composer's symphonies performed by the same orchestra and conductor.