Andrew B wrote:

American Record Guide, March/April 2009 Review by 'Vroon' 'This is a very boring orchestra, with no tonal allure. The conducting is dull as well. The two pieces I know best, Night Ride, and Belshazzar, are utterly without value here…' Later, the reviewer seems to evaluate works by name or duration only ('“Romantic Waltz” – odd for something titled Death').

Anyone contemplating buying the disc on the strengh of that review would clearly decide to give it a miss! I always try to hear a recording myself rather than trusting a reviewer. We all know how Sibelius's piano works have been slated by many an ignoramus. Just how 'Vroon' reaches his conclusions, only he knows. I think all active members of the forum have a good idea just what Sibelius is about. I've just looked up the review in Gramophone [Feb, 2009] to see what Andrew Achenbach had to say about Inkinen's disc :

'Heres further proof that Pietari Inkinen is a young conductor with confidence and talent to spare. As on this partnership's previous Sibelius anthology [3/08] the New Zealand SO respond with conspicuous poise and application for their Finnish chief [they really do sound like a rejuvenated band]. Inkinen's readings, too, show a real feeling for the idiom: phrases are shaped-and textures sifted-with fastidiousness and imagination, and he brings an abundant recreative flair and cogent grip to the task in hand, not least in Nightride and Sunrise, whose elusive structure he binds together with a sure-footed skill that belies his tender years. Moreover, Inkinen's luminous account of the Suite from Belshazzar's Feast will have you questioning why such an appealing and highly evocative score is so seldom performed [both middle movements possess a truely spine-tingling hush].
Elsewhere, rarities such as Pan and Echo and The Dryad emerge with a dewy freshness and ear-pricking sophistication that prompts a radical reappraisal. Inkinen even manages to breath new life into the Op 44 diptych from the 1903 incidental music for Kuolema [the ubiquitous 'Valse triste' and bleakly beautiful 'Scene with Cranes', and his alchemy extends to the two altogether more mundane numbers that Sibelius added for a 1911 revival of the play [the feeble 'Valse romantique' sounds more beguiling than I would have ever thought possible].
A disc, then guaranteed to give pretty much unbridled pleasure. Naxos's sound combines helpful transparency with plenty of ambient glow, and I for one would welcome more off-the-beaten-track Sibelius from the NZSO/Inkinen team'.

Whilst not sharing Achenbach's view of 'Valse romantique' I do think that he is on our wavelengh, which is more than can be said for 'Vroon'.--kp

Just goes to show, yet again, just how subjective any art is to the masses. We are all devoted Sibelians and there is a concensus in this forum that the disc is a winner. I'd like to think we all know good Sibelius when we hear it!

I question Vroon's "Sibelian credetials." In other words, is he much of a Sibelius fan going into this review. Maybe he does not like this music to begin with. After all, he said he was "familiar" with NIght Ride and Belshazzar, he did not say he liked them. And he seems to be a little unfamiliar with the rest of the music in general. This could be just old-fashioned anti-Sibelius sentiment in the tradition or Odorno or Leibowitz. Or, maybe he genuinly did not like the disc but does like Sibelius...who knows?

But with a disc of high quality like Inkinen's, kinda makes you wonder where on earth this guy could be coming from.

(David Hurwitz liked this disc, by the way, and I think this guy is usually pretty spot on.)

I'm glad that we are in agreement, and Andrew Achenbach and Dave Hurwitz are indeed powerful allies. But in general I certainly agree with Kp about not trusting reviewers blindly. I gave up buying the mags years ago, when Deutsche Grammophon placed a full-page inside front cover ad in Gramophone for Anne-Sophie Mutter's (hideous) version of the Violin Concerto and claimed that it was a world première recording (d'oh!).When I wrote to complain, they (Gramophone) refused to take any action because, quite evidently, DG spends money by the tankerload on advertising.

Cynical - moi?

Andrew B wrote:

What do you reckon?

I reckon that with the established and ever-growing popularity of Forums such as ours, TalkClassical, GMG and many more, professional criticism is dead. The last thing I would ever do nowadays when deciding whether or not to purchase a recording is read an "official" critique. It is so much more informative and representative to sample the opinions of dozens of people over the internet than to read one "professional's" opinion.

The forum of Internet Forums allows for the broad and fast dissemination of a wide range of opinions -- and let us not forget that this is all that "professional criticism" has ever been. One person's opinion.

Just remember, Vroon will not have a statue erected in his honor. Remember that!

Speaking of "non-professional" reviews, I will always scan disc reviews on Amazon and find them, for the most part, to be very honest and insightful. (I have a few reviews on there myself.)

Andrew, what a shameful story about Deutsche Grammaphon.

Tapkaara wrote:

Just remember, Vroon will not have a statue erected in his honor. Remember that!

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Sibelius certainly had the critics weighed up!

He was strolling through a garden when a friend observed, 'The most beautiful music in the world is natures concert of birds and winds. Just then a crow zoomed overhead, cawing madly, 'And there', smiled Sibelius 'goes the critic'. -kp

Just an update on Pietari Inkinen's Sibelius. I've just listened to a BBC broadcast of Inkinen conducting the Manchester based BBC Philharmonic in En saga and as I knew the programme was coming up, I taped it. Well I was not disapointed. The young Finnish maestro delivered a stunning account. As with the Naxos disc that we have discussed, Inkinen has a natural feeling for the ebb and flow of Sibelius's music. He instinctively knows when to pull back the reins and when to fire on all cylinders. The BBC Phil. has a long tradition of Sibelius although under present chief conductor maestro Noseda, Sibelius has been largely absent. Under Segerstam and Tortelier I have witnessed some fine Sibelius here in Manchester. Hurry back maestro Inkinen.--kp

Sounds good - pity I missed the broadcast.

By the way, Inkinen has a Sibelius Festival in New Zealand (Wellington) this September with all seven symphonies and some other works:

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Looks like three great concerts coming up in Wellington next September, I will certainly look out for any reviews. Lets hope that Inkinen records the complete symphonies.--kp

Andrew B wrote:

Sounds good - pity I missed the broadcast. By the way, Inkinen has a Sibelius Festival in New Zealand (Wellington) this September with all seven symphonies and some other works: Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

September is a Sibelius month! Festivals in Finland, now in New Zealand. How can one Sibelian be in multiple places at the same time...?

A friend of mine from Melbourne is going to give it a try! - i.e. to call in in NZ on the way home from FIN. I don't think he's joined our forum ranks yet but I hope he will, as he has much to contribute.

By the way there's a fourth concert (not listed on the same web page) including the 'missing' symphony! - along with some Richard Strauss, if memory serves.

Talking of Sibelius next September, I note that on the 8th of that month Sir Peter Maxwell Davies [Master of the Queens music] will celebrate his 75th birthday with a Promenade concert at Londons Royal Albert Hall. In the first half, Sir Peter will conduct Mendelssohns 'Fingals Cave' and the UK Premiere of his Violin Concerto No. 2 [Fiddler on the shore'. All the music in this concert is clearly close to the composers heart. To close this 'birthday' concert we have the Fifth Symphony of Sibelius conducted by Garry Walker. This symphony as influenced Davies's own symphonic work enormously. I have a tape of Maxwell Davies conducting Sibelius 4 with the BBC Philharmonic, an account of profound insight.--kp