The Greatest Recordings EVER! Sibelius: Luonnotar

[@musicianinseattle]

I play in an orchestra that performed "Luonnotar" last spring -- we all loved it. Like the singer in your story, our soprano (Stacey Mastrian) learned it especially for our performance, and did a great job. She also did a piece by Grace Williams, "Fairest of Stars" -- quite a double feature!

[@Tenortalker]

It is the kind of piece which was very suited to wonderful Bryn Julson with her shining upper register and capacity for singing wide intervals. I heard Elisabeth Soderstrom sing the piece and that was special too. Haunting was how I would describe it. Also worth hearing if you can find it is the Gwyneth Jones recording- from around 1969/1970. Her voice is stable and she brings a mixture of power and wistfulness.

[@QHarefield]

I had not heard Luonnotar before, but I have just listened to Gibson, with Phyllis B-J. Wow, what a voice! And, as you say, such accuracy. Thanks for the review.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for listening!

[@rickscherer5939]

I have a nomination for "The Greatest Recordings Ever." It is Mass for Christmas Morning, by Praetorius, performed by the Gabrieli Consort. Do you know it? Do you agree?

[@scotttisdel138]

Hi to Dave and all of his listeners. I own the Gibson Sibelius Tone Poems on LP and every single performance is wonderful, highly recommended. Phyllis Bryn-Julson is wonderful as well, but hers is not my favorite Luonnotar. That would be live version on youtube with Karita Mattila, Hannu Lintu and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Mattila's intensity and 110% commitment to this music as astonishing, especially in a live performance. You can tell how much the piece means to Mattila by her reaction after the last note dies away. I would urge all interested listeners to check out this easily available performance as well.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

She doesn't sing as well as Bryn-Julson. Close your eyes and the difference is obvious.

[@waynesmith3767]

I love this work and I like Mattila by prefer Isokoski ( but when she recorded something she always prefer her) ; I must hear this one! Especially since she went to the trouble of learning proper Finnish pronunciation-actually an easy thing one a few basic principles are learned.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Of course. i speak like a native. But then, that's true of everything I pronounce.

[@jeffheller642]

"crazy intervals" "snatch notes out of the air" I may be wrong but I cannot recall other occasions where you analyze singing. How refreshing and interesting! I wonder if the ear is more forgiving of instruments than the human voice.

[@robertberry3487]

I thought for a moment we were entering Good Vibrations territory.

[@AlexMadorsky]

I’d be interested to know what works Uncle Davey would pair with this unusual piece on a hypothetical program.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Take a look at Fabulous Concert Programs No, 2.

[@AlexMadorsky]

@ Aha! I should have remembered you trod this ground already. A fine program you've devised with Neilsen and Strauss. There is one other obvious second half pairing, however: Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Minotaur.