Jean Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite - Pohjola's Daughter - Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra - Hannu Lintu - Ondine ODE 1262-5 (2015) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (2.78GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.25GB) (+6dB gain) | 2ch (GB) DR15 (+6dB gain) | Classical Released 6 April Amazon & SA-CD.net review by Luukas on 9 Jun. 2015: Year 2015 marks the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius (1865– 1957). This SACD is the 1st disc of Lintu's Sibelius Series what will contain all the composer's major orchestral works. At the same time this is already the 2nd SACD of Sibelius' "Lemminkäinen Suite", Op. 22 - Vänskä's interpretation with Lahti Symphony Orchestra (BIS1745) was the 1st. PERFORMANCE (for Lemminkäinen Suite only): Lintu's tempi are mostly slower than Vänskä's: I. 15'09 (Vänskä), 15'56 (Lintu) II. 9'17, 9'07 III. 16'14, 16'19 IV. 6'45, 6'31 In the 1st movement - Lemminkäinen & the Maidens of Island - Lintu underlines many beautiful melodies. He conducts peacefully - which is totally different than Vänskä's powerful vision. The lively main theme is premeditated here - Lintu realizes the score's dynamic markings carefully. Approach is traditional. The 2nd movement - The Swan of Tuonela - sounds very touching here. The atmosphere is rather more comtemplative than melancholic. The 3rd movement - Lemminkäinen in Tuonela - is the work's the most dramatic section. The playing is more polished. Lintu has a long career with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & their teamwork is pleasant - again. The peaceful middle scene - "Molto lento" (bar 186) - is more thoughtful here. The movement's last minutes are stunning: Sibelius added the bass drum's dramatic stroke to the final version (bar 282) & here it is very impressing. The last movement - Lemminkäinen's return - is even better than Vänskä's. Tempi are very fast - for example the last acceleration to the "Presto" section is breathtaking. RECORDING: The Mch mix (5.0) follows the normal allocation, there isn't the additional subwoofer channel. Ondine's principal engineer Enno Mäemets has done very good work at the Helsinki Music Centre. My subwoofer launched on during the 1st movement. It brought amazing dimension to the music. The crystal clear recording brought also many new instrumental details to the listener. For example the last movement's piccolo was very clear. RESULTS: - Performance: ****1/2 (Traditional: the Vänskä's recording is for you if you want a powerful fast interpretation) - Recording: ***** (Outstanding) - Packaging: ***** (Strong Jewel Case) Wonderful disc for all Sibelians! This album must be in your library, definitely! I can hardly wait the next releases.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Other reviews: Hannu Lintu sets out his stall with the opening of the 1st movement, Lemminkainen & the maidens on the Island : beautifully paced and shaped at a purposeful, not too slow pace, & finely played. Performance **** Recording **** ~BBC Music Magazine,July'15 With playing of refinement & vigour, & interpretations on a grand, symphonic scale, this is 1 of the most impressive versions of the 4 Legends in recent years. **** ~Classical Music,June'15 http://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=10535#reviews ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tracks: 01-I Lemminkäinen and the Maidens on the Island 02-II The Swan of Tuonela 03-III Lemminkäinen in Tuonela 04-IV Lemminkäinen's Return 05-Pohjola's Daughter Musicians: Finnish RSO Hannu Lintu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Checksum for iso: 1fe19ef078ad4a4fe23d10a63d2b5ac5 *Sibelius - Lemminkainen Legends, Pohjola's Daughter - Lintu & Finnish RSO.iso Checksums for flac tracks Mch: 0d674a12854159f20e1998ad40010096 *01 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - I Lemminkainen and the Maidens on the Island.flac a0af1d8e2ef1fef12d470fed831476ae *02 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - II The Swan of Tuonela.flac 88bff0c88f5c2fff9c2132bb861d4025 *03 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - III Lemminkainen in Tuonela.flac 303a2ac709a68e56922d4109b42fc280 *04 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - IV Lemminkainen's Return.flac e5e37fb76441bf1093373204cf1ceb08 *05 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - Pohjola's Daughter.flac Checksums for flac tracks 2ch: 4611e94dde58930eaa455c7fa80dff2f *01 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - I Lemminkainen and the Maidens on the Island.flac 4747a6a7131c97669de0d7df8154d23c *02 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - II The Swan of Tuonela.flac 5367b50783220d50ad50c0426f0465f5 *03 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - III Lemminkainen in Tuonela.flac 2655bcbbb3b472104cbc87efa3969263 *04 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - IV Lemminkainen's Return.flac 11dbb80affc7006c2a729694b76ba66e *05 - Finnish RSO, Hannu Lintu, conductor - Pohjola's Daughter.flac