Sibelius: In the Stream of Life

 

I had no expectations for the songs of Jean Sibelius, but what a treat this recording turned out to be!

To compare Sibelius to Schubert as a song writer would be the highest of compliments from this listener. Indeed, there are many apt comparisons to be made between the two composers, even though a century or more displace them.

First are the texts. There are some really colorful stories being portrayed here, some fantastical and plot based, some landscape centered and poetry based, and all terribly interesting as sung here. Many end on a dark note while others use nature as a metaphor for man's inner soul or capturing a single moment in time.

Second is the interaction between voice and orchestra. Never is the instrumental portion relegated as mere accompaniment, nor is the orchestra ever static unless the story calls for it. Instead, the voice is interwoven into the instrumental fabric, as if they are both existing in service to the story or the poetry being told.

Sibelius' music is unabashedly Romantic, yet I sense a dabbling with 20th-Century modernism as well. At some points, I hear expressionist harmonies, ones rarely associated with the composer, but aspects which drive the music to match the words. All said and done, this is perhaps the finest vocal recital program I have heard in some time. It is not just a collection of songs from a composer, but an intelligent progression of themes and images married to music. Kudos to whomever arranged this program!

Of course, everything above would be moot if these performances were uninspired. Thankfully, Gerald Finley has a beautiful baritone voice, one which can ramp up into bellowing heroisms just as well as it can be plaintive or peacefully set in sotto voce. Finley really sells these pieces, ones which will be mostly unfamiliar to those exploring Sibelius from his more famous orchestral music. Too bad for those not willing to explore this aspect from the composer, for these are outstanding compositions.

It should be noted that only a few of the orchestrations come from Sibelius himself. Yet, since I don't know the original voice/piano versions, they sound perfectly true to the spirit of the composer. Fellow Finn Einojuhani Rautavaara compiles and orchestrates the title song cycle In the Stream of Life, a gathering of Sibelius' songs taken from across his career to create a satisfying whole. I daresay, these are my favorites on the program. Finley even covers some songs which are normally reserved for female singers, and lovely they are with Finley's lyric baritone.

About 30 minutes of this program is given over to Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra alone. I assume there aren't many orchestrated songs to fill an entire album, so two tone poems and a string orchestra piece are shared here. While nothing is wanting from the orchestral numbers, I have heard more convincing performances of Pohjola's Daughter, while The Oceanides has never been a favorite of mine under the best of circumstances. The Romance in C Major is a short, odd work, one where the more accidentals Sibelius throws at the instruments, the more craggy it sounds (as in the opening), whereas the absence of accidentals provides the listener both folksy and amiable sounds.

The physical media provides both the original song texts as well as their English translations. The SACD sound has particularly strong bass profile, one which can be rather thickset depending on the orchestration. When Sibelius starts agitating the sea or the weather in his songs, the bass effect can almost be too much, yet strongly impactful for the story.

Personally, I would prefer more Finley singing Sibelius, for that is the treasure of this recording. Even at around 50 minutes of vocal music alone, this is well worth the purchase. 

Works
In the Stream of Life (19.07)
   Quiet Town, op. 50/5 (2.50)
   Hunter Boy, op. 13/7 (2.53)
   Morning of the Heart, op. 13/3 (2.31)
   River and the Snail, op. 57/1 (2.53)
   Water Spirit, op. 57/8 (2.59)
   I am a Tree, op. 57/5 (2.57)
   Black Roses, op. 36/1 (2.02)

The Ferryman's Brides, op. 33 (9.44)
Diamond on the March Snow, op. 36/6 (2.25)
On the Veranda by the Sea, op. 38/2 (3.29)
At Night, op. 38/3 (5.05)
Duke Magnus, op. 57/6 (3.41)
Come Away, Death, op. 60/1 (2.55)
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable (2.07)

Pohjola's Daughter, op. 49 (13.49)
The Oceanides, op. 73 (10.03)
Romance, op. 42 (5.17)


Soloists
Gerald Finley, baritone

Performers
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 2017
Total Timing: 78.40
 

An excellent vocal recital of orchestrated Sibelius art songs. Finley and the Bergen PO sell this music, both the outgoing and introverted aspects.

The orchestral numbers end up being filler to the singing. The tone poems are not a reason to visit this recording, for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

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