Sibelius – Symphony No 2

This used to be an old favourite of mine, and I think it still is, although my heart hasn’t been in it the last couple of days. You notice immediately how far Sibelius has come since the First Symphony (see http://terrapinlistens2.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html). The most impressive thing (for me) about the first movement is its efficiency – of doing a lot with relatively little basic material. The second movement is probably my favourite among Sibelius slow movements – you actually get the feeling that it is there to do some serious work, as opposed to providing a charming interlude.

The final movement doesn’t carry the same emotional charge with me as it used to, although the laaavly theme does raise the hairs on the back of my neck still. But now I find the going-round-in-circles-in-D-minor bits annoying. We KNOW it’s going to go back to D major. Especially the second time around.

The recording is Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia – as with the First Symphony the brass is amazing throughout.