Halle Orchestra, John Barbirolli

John Barbirolli’s electrifying interpretations of the works of Jean Sibelius have inspired audiences all over the world. In a letter to Barbirolli, Sibelius declared himself to be a ‘devoted admirer’ of the conductor, adding that he was always happy to know that his compositions were in Barbirolli’s ‘masterful hands’. This collection features, among other works, the complete symphonies – including Barbirolli’s specialty, No. 2 –, the incidental music of Pelléas et Mélisande and that great instrumental song of nationalism Finlandia. The recordings sound better than ever thanks to the new remastering done for the Barbirolli Edition.

Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Sibelius: Valse Triste, Op. 44 No. 1
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 "Legends of the Kalevala"
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Sibelius: Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49
Sibelius: Suite from Pelléas and Mélisande, Op. 46
Sibelius: Rakastava, Op. 14
Sibelius: Romance in C major for strings, Op. 42
Sibelius: Scènes historiques I, Op. 25
Sibelius: Scènes historiques II, Op. 66: No. 1, The Hunt