Sibelius: The Wood-Nymph

 

I didn't have much time to do a full roundup of Sibelius recordings yet,

but I did manage to slide in the composer's early tone poem The Wood-Nymph.

The work was heretofore unknown to me, and apparently is has been regularly dismissed on recordings. This performance with Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra was a premiere of the work, yet it apparently didn't inspire others to try it out, for this recording remains one of very few available.

I can't imagine why either, for despite being an early piece from Sibelius, its music is remarkably coherent. The main complaints seem to be related to how closely it follows the story in lieu of proper musical development and structures. The other rag being a specter of Richard Wagner hanging over the third love-theme section. Neither aspect bothers me.

If anything is amiss for this listener, it is the clean, spaced-out harmonies and orchestrations tied to a rather dark tale. It is as if a young Sibelius is afraid to get the music dirty, but that is sort-of what this programmatic tone poem needs. In a way, The Wood-Nymph reminds me of Dvořák's The Water Goblin, two works which allow the listener to closely follow the minute plot points of a local ghost tale as the music goes along. The difference is Sibelius' music focuses on the main character rather than the more interesting, fantastical nature of the titular Wood Nymph.

Other than this, though, I like this work just fine. Truthfully, The Wood-Nymph should easily snuggle into Sibelius' other tone poems just fine, although at over 20 minutes in length, is a substantial composition. I would love to hear another performance from a different crew, just to see if a rougher approach could make the piece more effective or moody. Vänskä and the Lahti band are clear and refined, filling this music with plenty of character, so it remains a fine choice nonetheless.

Recording Roundup

The Wood-Nymph, op. 15
   Lahti Symphony Orchestra
   Osmo Vänskä, conductor
   BIS; 1996

Find more Sibelius recordings HERE!