Le Monde de la Musique: Choc; Penguin Guide 3 stars.
This album presents both versions of Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82—the original four-movement version from 1915 and the final, better-known three-movement version from 1919. Performed by the Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä, it offers a rare opportunity to hear the dramatic evolution of one of Sibelius’s most important symphonic works.
The 1915 version was premiered for Sibelius’s 50th birthday but soon left him dissatisfied. Over several years, he extensively reworked the piece, reflecting a profound internal struggle—what he called a “struggle with God.” The 1919 revision, now a cornerstone of the orchestral repertoire, features more organic structure, vivid orchestration, and one of the most powerful symphonic endings ever written.
This recording reveals not only Sibelius’s compositional genius but also the deeply personal and philosophical journey behind the music.
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