How to do Original Jackets

 

Many like these original jacket series, and I count among them.

But, there is a right way to do it. Sony gets some of it correct, at least for this physical-media listener.

I like the clamshell box with the cardboard CD sleeves and separate liner note booklet. This aspect feels high quality with Sony.

When you get to the original jacket CD holders, I enjoy the smooth, glossy finish, even if sliding the CDs out of them makes me cringe every time. I know CDs can withstand a lot of scratching, but I still shudder nonetheless. Three of the seven original jackets are visually similar. I wish they would have chosen alternate cover art to distinguish them more, but at least the composition names are printed on the front. Plus the actual CDs look like little records.

Where I abjure is when it comes to the back of the cardboard sleeves. Just give me the list of works, their movements and track timings, with performing information. What Sony has done is taken the original jacket theme from the front and continued them onto the back. I appreciate the LP liner notes on the back, but at this size, I need a magnifying glass to get anything out of it. That said, only four of the seven sleeves actually have the LP liner notes, the rest giving laudatory press snippets about how good the recordings are.

Continuing my particular dislikes, part and parcel of the original jacket series means an 80-minute CD is only filled with 40-50 minutes of music on each disc, stemming from the original LP runtime limits. So here, instead of 7 CDs, we could have had four or five by pairing up Sibelius' works together economically.

In addition, we also get music from other composers - Bruch & Grieg. Nice to have, but unnecessary in a set of Sibelius. Especially when the Bruch Violin Concerto is conducted by Thomas Schippers... in a set of Sibelius... titled The Symphonies on the cover... from Bernstein...! Gather the tone poems together, pair up the symphonies, and call it a day.

In the end, though, it is all about the music. Leonard Bernstein's view of Sibelius is red hot! Those looking for a distant, icy landscape look elsewhere, for the US conductor is all about eking whatever heart-pounding emotion he can drain from Sibelius' music. Even when Bernstein pulls hard on the reins in the symphonies, most notably in Symphonies no. 4 and no. 7, the sheer torque behind the playing from the New York Philharmonic Orchestra is sweat inducing to these ears.

On the other side of the coin, Bernstein does seem interested in sticking close to Sibelius' tempo markings, fully felt when he carouses headlong with abandon in Symphonies 1-3 and no. 6. I really feel the attack in Symphony no. 1 most in this set, perhaps my favorite of these performances, even if I personally prefer some of the other symphonies.

One of many aspects which will divide listeners in Bernstein's Sibelius is his approach to gear shifts within movements of the symphonies. Those looking for an organic approach aside subtle shadings and motions will be mostly disappointed, I think. Instructions of stringendo, rallentando, accelerando, etc., are taken at face value by Bernstein and given everything the conductor can juice out of the musical instructions for maximum effect.

As is the case with Bernstein, he will make choices of rubato which fits the personality he wishes to stamp upon the music. For some, this aspect of the conductor is maddening. But I find I agree as to the effectiveness of some of his preferences, where in his later Vienna performances of Sibelius symphonies, Bernstein goes too far. Usually way too slow!

Quite frankly, I like the orchestral perspective of these 60s recordings - fairly close with a solid low end. While the woodwind section isn't the most beautiful sounding group, the solo wind moments are all excellent, and the string textures are rich and deep. The trumpets can be a little strident, where I prefer a horn forward sound, but the brass in general is punchy and responsive at need.

As to the remastering, the original recordings were considered rather noisy. This 2015 set has cleaned up most of that from the Bernstein Century, Great Performances, and Royal Edition releases. I assume these remastered versions can be found in the Bernstein Symphony Edition, but I haven't heard those.

I would say, if you can find this set at a decent price, a purchase is a no-brainer. Last I looked, sellers have the 7CD set going for between $100-$600 US dollars. I find the price-gouging situation outrageous, but there must be someone out there willing to pay those prices if they are listed as such. I understand inflation, but Gee Whillikers!

 

 

 

Works
Symphony 1 & Luonnotar (44.59)
Symphony 2 (44.37)
Symphony 3 & 4 (66.12)
Symphony 5 & Pohjola's Daughter (45.38)
Symphony 6 & 7 (66.12)
Violin Concerto & Bruch (50.55)
Tone Poems & Grieg (55.13)

Soloists
Phyllis Curtin, soprano
Zino Francescatti, violin

Ensembles
New York Philharmonic Orchestra 
Thomas Schippers, conductor
Leonard Bernstein, conductor

Label: Columbia/CBS; Sony
Year: 1960-73; 2015
Total Timing: 6.13.46

 

 

 

 

I'm here mainly for the symphonies and tone poems from Sibelius as led by Leonard Bernstein in NY. If you like a hot-blooded approach, these will be must-hear performances.

The extras are unnecessary, but nice to have. The Original Jacket series will please to some degree, although not 100% for this listener.

If you can find this set outside of the current inflated price situation, I would say 'Go for it'!