I revisted the Yale version of The Oceanides today and I was struck by it more than I ever had been previously. Being so used to the final version, one's ears sure perk up when listening to Sibbe's Yale version.

The orchestration sounds "rougher" to my ears, and more rugged. One doesn't not feel the elegance of the final version; these are darker waters, in my opinion.

In reading Andrew's liner notes for the "Rondo of the Waves" disc, he mentions that Osmo Vänskä thinks of the Yale version as a "large lake" whereas the final verion is a "mighty ocean."

Both versions are not without merit, and I quite like this stranger Yale version. Anyone else?

I too love the Yale version, its a world of fantastic new sounds.
Its same with the original version of En Saga. The revised versions are more polished and better finished works of art, but the originals have there own unique vision. The first version of the violin concerto and the 1915 Fifth Symphony are close to my heart.
Also on the 'Rondo of the waves' disc I find the 'Fragments from a Suite for Orchestra [Predecessor of The Oceanides] utterly absorbing. All credit to Vanska and Bis.--kp