5 Star Recordings: Complete Sibelius Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

The story here is the same as with DG’s recent Blu-ray Audio reissue of Karajan’s stellar 1970s cycle of the Bruckner symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic: superb transfers of vintage analog recordings to DTS-HD MA 24/192 stereo (also available, 5.1 surround at 24/96 and Dolby Atmos) by the msm-studios group in Munich. And make no mistake, Karajan’s 1964–67 Berlin accounts of Symphonies Nos. 4–7, the Violin Concerto, and the late tone poem Tapiola, with Finlandia, Valse triste, and The Swan of Tuonela thrown in—the “substantive marrow” of this compilation—are among the best recordings he ever made, which is saying something. The Philharmoniker were at their peak—beautiful strings, superb winds, titanic, in-your-face brass, and glorious ensemble throughout. One of innumerable examples here: the harp chords perfectly floated on bass pizzicati, the quiet trombones, the exquisite dovetailing of string parts in Symphony No. 6, a Karajan specialty. The sound is vastly better than anything that has been achieved with these accounts to date, conveying sumptuous bass and a wide and precise soundstage—note the pinpoint-accurate placement of staccato proclamations from trombones and trumpets in Finlandia. What a great venue the Jesus-Christus Kirche was!