Beaten to the Punch

 

This recording was overshadowed from just the year before.

That previous one on Ondine similarly contained the whole Press Celebrations Music, plus the entire Karelia Music as their pairing. Of course Vänskä recorded that one as well, so it is a give and take.

BIS' release suffers from poor labeling too. Nothing on this cover really tells prospective listeners what is on the program, nor would the common lay-listener realize Finland Awakes is the predecessor to the famous Finlandia, here presented in two early forms. If Ondine gave us all of the music to Karelia, here BIS includes The Breaking of the Ice on the Oulu River, a rare Sibelius incidental piece.

So, here we are stuck with a fabulous performance of Jean Sibelius' music which most have largely ignored. Plus, half of this 72-minute program contains singing from the Helsinki University Chorus, an ensemble not even mentioned on the front. Shame!

What we do get here is a lot of vigorous music. I generally know Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä for his thoughtful, intelligent approach to Classical Music, so color me surprised by such an aggressive-sounding performance. Particularly impressive is the hearty male University chorus who lustily sings across four tracks, backed by the unusually swarthy-sounding Lahti Symphony Orchestra for those moments.

The Three Songs for Male Chorus and Orchestra are all heroic in nature, with modal harmonies freely emanating from Sibelius. The Lahti Boys Choir joins in the third Song of the Athenians, cutting in with a rather harsh rustic edge. The 10+ minute Breaking of the Ice has the orchestra bursting in alongside narration provided by Lasse Pöysti in Finnish. Luckily, BIS provides all of the texts and translations for anyone wanting to know what is being sung about.

The 40-minute Press Celebrations Music is orchestral only, and the most characterfully varied on the program. Each movement depicts a different moment in Finnish history, from heroic battles, to devout religious fervor, across multiple foreign rulers, finally arriving at Finland's people rising up for independence.

The severe baptismal scene sticks in my mind as something special from Sibelius, plus elsewhere we hear castanets amongst airy exoticisms, and even a jump-scare from the musical battle. Some of this music was later reworked into Scènes Historiques, a pair of suites I have already covered on this blog, and one I rather enjoyed.

Two early versions of Finlandia are also performed. Finland Awakes comes at the conclusion of the Press Celebrations Music. First its music is played straight, and then at the very end of the recording, it comes with a concluding brass chorale, which stirringly extends the piece a minute or so. No, the choral version is not performed here.

BIS locates the Lahti Symphony Orchestra very closely to the listener sonically, at the arm of the conductor. This makes for very exciting listening, hearing the percussion as clearly and strongly as the strings. That, and Osmo Vänskä presents this patriotic music with great vigor. One senses he believes thoroughly in his composer countryman and does not wish to underplay any of it. That said, Vänskä lets the Lahti orchestra explore greater riches in the Press Celebrations Music, which doesn't require constant flag-waving, but sensitivity, pathos, and good humor as well.

Forget Ondine; this one is well worthy of exploring. While the music may be political propaganda for Finnish independence, these performers can even make my a-political heart swell with pride.

 

 

 

Works
Press Music Celebrations, JS 137 (41.59)
Breaking of the Ice on the Oulu River, op. 30 (10.30)
Three Songs for Chorus and Orchestra, op. 31 (9.10)
    Lemminkäinen's Song (4.08)
    Have You Courage? (1.31)
    Song of the Athenians (3.31)
Finland Awakes, extended ending (8.27)

Soloists
Lasse Pöysti, narrator

Performers
Lahti Boys Choir
Helsinki University Chorus
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor

Label: BIS
Year: 2000
Total Timing: 71.42

 

 

 

If you have a taste for the vigorous, this recording will inspire even the weakest of hearts.

No, not the finest from Sibelius, but a whole lot of orchestral and choral fun.

While the male chorus gives us the goods on the patriotic numbers, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra ply their wares wonderfully in the Press Celebrations Music.

 

 

 

 

 

 Find more Sibelius recordings HERE!