Proceed with caution, I'd say. Maazel does polarize opinion and this Vienna set is undeniably uneven. It is quite old now (and No. 1 in particular is starting to sound its age, technically). Reviewers have consistently praised 1, 2, 4 and 7, complained about the tempi in 5 and - rightly - absolutely written off 3 and (especially) 6. I myself find plenty of freshness in the music-making, much more than in Maazel's overstuffed and underinspired Pittsburgh remakes, but I certainly wouldn't want this as my only set. The Fifth is in my view one of the more effective of the set, but it is very fast.
Vänskä will give you a far more authentic Sibelius, with more consistent rewards.

Welcome to you Zauberberg! Thanks for joining our discussion!

I have not heard all the recordings from this set, but I find Maazel lacks the specific, consistant and almost philosophicalapproach that makes for good Sibelius recordings.

I definitely concur with Andrew B in that Vanska with Lahti will certainly give you these things. As a bonus, the Vanska/Lahti recording of the 5th symphony features the original version as well as the final version of the work.

Just purchased Blomstedt's Sibelius Complete Symphony Cycle with San Francisco. I remember when it came out in the late 90's. Does anyone have any thoughts on it?

The finest performance of the Fifth symphony that I have ever heard on record is by a man who shyed away from the recording studio all his life--Sergiu Celibidache the legendary Romanian conductor. His account of this great symphony comes from a broadcast concert in 1971 with the Swedish Radio Symphony orchestra. In the last movement Celibidache moves inperceptably from the allegro molto to Un pochettino largamente and the famous swan hymn taken up by the trumpets is more noble and spacious than any rival I know, finaly the music moves to Largamente assai and a climax of earth shattering wonder and for once the final six hammer blows are spaced out to perfection, most conductors, even great ones do not pause long enough between these huge chords. Even that master Sibelian Karajan was particuarly cowardly here. In short, for a fifth symphony that does full justice to this mighty work, seek out Celibidache.--kullervopete