Sibelius: 5. Sinfonie ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Hugh Wolff

[@artlowenstein2898]

I've been listening to these symphonies for almost 60 years, and can never get enough of them. With the pandemic, I recommend going for long walks through woods or down country roads, hopefully with roaring brooks along the sides, with headphones on and any of the seven symphonies or the tone poems on. You will feel as if you are transported to another world.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

What a wonderful comment! I will choose "The Bard" for its mystery, and then Tapiola, and then perhaps Pohjolas Daughter, who knows. Thank you, and best greetings!

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

Many years ago, I lived in Finland (I'm Irish) - I would take my mountain bike, a flask of hot coffee and a wee drop of whiskey along with my 'walkman' (yes, it was that long ago... cassettes LOL)... I'd sit by snow covered lakes on the edge of the woods in -15 and Sibelius would keep me company while the coffee kept me warm. I agree, any one of his symphonies and tone poems would always hit the mark. I can completely relate to your post.

[@richardjx5442]

@@staffanolofsson8201 Have you heard his Nightride and Sunrise❓ an exquisite musical description of an overnight ride through the winter forest of Finland in the horse drawn slay through the night with the horns announcing the rising of the sun‼️🌅🌅

[@giginorman1955]

This performance Is amazing!!!!

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@richardjx5442 Late answer, Richard. Of course I have heard Nightride and Sunrice, I have it on a record. Great music.

[@HardToBeAPoopGod]

were i sat in one of those rows, i'd genuinely sob at the third movement. gosh 💛

[@richrol58]

Who needs to be there??

[@Zeldab2]

I already sob everytime I hear it on youtube. If I was first row I would have colapsed from Joy

[@JasielMartini]

There's something about the tension that starts at 30:45 , how it climaxes at 31:18, and the gradual release seven seconds later.... 31:25 and on is just... wow. I mustve looked like an idiot when I saw it last year in Raleigh. A grown ass man of 37 with tears streaming down his face in the front row lol. Much like Mahlers 2nd Symphony... Sibelius's 5th is such a complete experience. Love this Symphony so damn much.

[@stevenwilgus5422]

I have never visited the beautiful country of Finland but I feel it through Jean Sibelius.

[@timroebuck3458]

I know this man (Hugh Wolff). I met him in Washington, DC early in his career and sought his advice on continuing to pursue my own music career. He was a sympathetic listener, but at the same time he was honest about the travails I would have to face, especially with the circumstances I was living under at the time.

[@Irene_Bae]

Everyone waxes lyrical (correctly so) about the 3rd movement, but that melodic climax at the ending of the 2nd movement with the trombones is just incredibly moving and transcendental. I just can't resist listing to that passage alone, nevermind the rest of the symphony! There's no question at all that this 5th Symphony is definitely on par with Beethoven's and Tchaikovsky's! Sibelius was the consummate genius.

[@ДмитрийКоростелев-н3в]

Absolutely agree!

[@wadejnelson]

named my son Christian, after falling in love with this symphony, still love him and it!

[@hyseo1121]

He did micromanaging and macromanaging at the same time. Really great job. Hugh wolff is a phenomenal conductor indeed.

[@parintelebaiazid80]

14:14 - VICTORY! WE HAVE VICTORY! The urge to applaud is tremendous at 14:27!

[@JohnBorstlap]

Beautifully conducted & performed... This piece is insanely original, depicting something grand that is sometimes on the verge of disintegrating but is recovering again and again.

[@ilokivi]

Sibelius once said of the composition process: 'It was as if the Almighty had cast the pieces upon the ground, leaving me to piece them together.' Written at a time of national ferment in Finland struggling to assert its independence as a nation, this piece is a sculpture in sound of the soul of a people indomitable, tenacious and with sisu.

[@ianglasse809]

It is masterful in the way that Sibelius's writing and scoring can get what is a scaled down orchestra to sound so full and commanding. I was fortunate enough to see and hear the Lahti Symphony Orchestra play this wonderful piece as part of the celebrations marking the 150th Anniversary of the great man's birth at the annual Sibelius Festival in the city of Lahti back in 2015. Masterful and haunting!

[@martinwest2538]

This is a fantastic performance of the fantastic symphony! I've always admired the impressive smoothness how Sibelius turns the first movement quite logically into a Scherzo, using the very same thematic material all the way. Note how the rocking "swan" theme of the third movement is born already in the second movement, stealthily in the accompaniment. The third movement is one of Sibelius's finest renditions of a life bustling spring, full with joy and melancholy at the same time. Note the augmentation of the swan theme in the basses simultaneously with it playing in the horns. The rise towards the final explosions in the end (starting at 28:49) is one of the finest in symphonic literature.

[@paulparry1197]

A wonderful interpretation of one of my favourite pieces of music. Thirty five minutes of pure heaven.

[@neuromancer5661]

This is my absolute favorite piece of music. I feel transformed whenever I listen to it.

[@janxharris1]

The greatest mystery of the age - why doesn't his music get billions of plays?

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Sibelius music is like looking for a special something ( a tree) in a forest of nothing (many trees), it is easy to get lost. Not all can handle that feeling. Best wishes!

[@elsaalcala5486]

@@staffanolofsson8201 You right, amigo.... 🇲🇽 Greetings from México 🇲🇽

[@richrol58]

​@@staffanolofsson8201I wish I'd written that...!!😮

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@richrol58 Thank you! That was written three years ago, I had forgotten it. Greeting from Sweden where we also have a lot of forests to get lost in.

[@internetpolice6143]

i am 24 and i prefer this music over anything playing right now

[@jobbhorog]

I. Tempo molto moderato 0:30 II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto 15:00 III. Allegro molto 23:50

[@pieterschraa9619]

Mrs./Mr Jobbhorog, thanks for the division in parts.

[@parintelebaiazid80]

13:49 - the Victorious Charge of a Mighty Army! Makes you feel absolutely invincible! Breathtakingly glorious!!!

[@teodoromartin8875]

I love this symfony and all the symphonies of Sibelius I have listened all the music of Sibelius including all of his folkloric song music I am fall in love of Sibelius since at least thirty years This performance is marvellous Thanks you tube for gift us this splendid music saludos of an in love of Sibelius from Spain

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Sibelius is an unique territory with its own rules, and I have learned the rules by now. And I accept them. This 5:th symphony is wonderfully played by the orchestra and wonderfully conducted by mr Wolff.

[@7171Julian]

This 5th symphony by Jean Sibelius is extraordinarily beautiful. And there's wonderful playing here as well.

[@Discovery_and_Change]

1st movement 0:33 begins | 3:11 theme | 5:55 theme | 9:31 dignified victory 2nd movement 15:07 begins | 15:29 morning | 21:20 alt. tone 25:05 honor | 30:02 honor | 32:09 pauses |

[@paullewis2413]

It's good to hear a fine German orchestra in this symphony and it's about time orchestras there started paying more attention to Sibelius, one of the greatest of all composers. Karajan of course was a great Sibelian (His recording of the 5th with the Philharmonia remains IMO the best ever) and Rattle continued the promotion when he was with the B.P.O.

[@normanwibe7080]

Yes, Paul ! I fully agree !

[@SupportTheArts-yo8ox]

Osmo Vanska is also a Sibelian, in my humble opinion.

[@raulaguilar1736]

Karajan is name and history, Hugh Wolf is now and today better.

[@frankfiello7904]

Reading the comments below, I would feel ignorant to expand. I'll just say I love Sibelius and this presentation.

[@alexandrecosta2708]

Maybe the most "Finnish" of all Sibelius´pieces. Intense, a lot of "patienting" an icy isolation "in crescendo" (the horns and clarinets) are fundamental here, what a magnificent "Dome" opening its skies in less than 5 minutes !!! Superb. Only Bernstein and Wiener Phil, do it slightly better in the 2nd movement, overall a great performance. Obrigado, thank you.

[@jjeherrera]

I remember first listening this symphony in a transatlantic flight several years ago, and immediately fell in love with it. I like to come back to it frequently.

[@whatsina1]

I think something that you hear (and like) on a flight..sticks with your forever. Even if it is something you already may know of,

[@bassoonmom8914]

I had the great pleasure to work with Hugh Wolff when he was a student at Peabody. I was in high school and played in the Peabody Prep orchestra. Even at that early stage of my development as an orchestra musician, I knew he was something special.

[@whatsina1]

I think this is the best live interpretation of it online, It seems transparent.

[@manuel2atack]

Jon Anderson said this and the 7th Sibelius' symphonies had inspired him and Yes to compose Close to the Edge in 1972

[@richrol58]

No foolin'??

[@matteormb6293]

what a wonderful symphony. especially the third movement is so beautiful

[@zootweek]

So majestic is the Fifth. Nature in all its power and glory. The third movement is my favourite with a passage described as "Thor swinging his mighty hammer" (You know it when you hear it). Also a Great performance here.

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Well done, Frankfurt! Skål fran Finland.

[@notaire2]

Objektive und saubere Leistung dieser nordischen Sinfonie ohne überflüssige Romantik. Die Holzbläser dieses Orchesters sind echt ausgezeichnet.

[@alvarito45]

It is wonderful that the great symphonic orchestras have two principals for almost every section of instruments. I have observed this in wood winds: flutes, oboes, clarinettes. And two chief masters (Concertini). So for the rest of the strings as well for the brass. No doubt this HR FRANKFURT Sinfonie is one of the best in Germany and Europe. During the pandemic I have also realized that all musicians are soloists and their performances have been outstanding always. Congratulations!!! Toujours excellence. Siempre excelencia. Danke viel!!!

[@maxwellmorris]

Yes very well organised to produce the best possible performance.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

There is no performance more interesting and intriguing and captivating than this performance From Tokyo where spring is in full swing

[@ЛюбомирСтоянов-э9щ]

Thank you! The concerts of this orchester are always a great experience!

[@tuliocremisini4405]

Great interpretation! Heart-felt, clear and intelligent conducting by Maestro Wolff !

[@ShoyuTao]

Great sounding recording and video masterfully played and directed.Bravo Maestro Wolff!

[@davidross6158]

Simply and completely said. Exceptional every aspect.

[@jdschneider5858]

How exciting! I love Sibelius and it's wonderful to see the musicians so close up and to be able to distinguish how the musical colors are created!! Thank you.

[@thomasbirkhahn9616]

Wonderful rendition of a superb symphony!!!

[@timk5145]

I love the way the conductor whips the orchestra to the climax of the first movement - starting around 14:00.

[@jean-pierresarrailla3820]

Mercis pour ce doux moment 💙🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋💙💙💙

[@ronaldbwoodall2628]

This is an impressive, strongly dramatic reading of a symphony that, from my standpoint as a listener, is a most difficult work to conduct and keep all its intricate threads together in proper balance so that everything can be correctly heard. I'm not too familiar with conductor Wolff, but now I think I should remedy that situation. The FRSO, as always, is excellent.

[@willmorris8198]

Formal Analysis for orch lit: I. Tempo molto moderato - allegro moderato - presto (13') 0:33 A1 (Swan Theme) - m. 1 0:48 woodwind entrances 1:27 B - m. 12 2:00 transition - m. 17 2:17 C - m. 20 2:56 D - m. 28 3:09 transition m. 31 3:34 A2 - m. 36 4:15 B2 - m. 45 4:51 E - m. 52 5:00 C2 - m. 54 5:40 D2 - m. 62 6:12 trans. - m. 68 6:27 E2 - m. 71 6:54 E3 - m. 76 7:28 Bassoon Solo - m. 83 8:07 trans. - m. 90 8:18 F - m. 92 8:50 - Woodwind interjection 9:09 9:30 A3 - m. 107 9:51 Woodwinds enter 10:03 Movement "1.5" A - m. 115 10:18 A2 (minor) - m. 136 10:24 trans. - m. 144 10:37 B - m. 164 10:45 Movement I. A - m. 176 10:55 B2 + A3 - m. 192 11:09 A4 (minor) - m. 212 11:14 C - m. 220 11:22 C2 - m. 232 11:38 C3 (minor) - m. 260 11:48 trans. - m. 276 12:00 12:08 - C4 m. 309 12:35 - C5 - m. 353 12:45 - C6 (Fugue) m. 371 13:22 - D 13:30 13:49 Coda part 1 14:14 Coda part 2 II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto 15:08 15:55 16:15 16:42 17:08 17:38 17:56 18:02 18:18 18:53 18:58 19:11 19:22 19:33 19:55 20:04 20:20 20:29 20:51 21:20 21:39 21:54 22:08 22:12 22:45 22:57 23:38 III. Allegro molto - misterioso 23:52 24:08 24:28 24:33 24:46 25:00 25:24 25:53 26:33 26:48 26:58 27:09 27:20 27:29 27:54 28:17 28:25 28:52 29:35 30:04 30:54 31:41 32:08

[@colinsmith8091]

Fantastic conductor and wonderful Orchestra what can I say Sibelius Genius and lots more of his music to come. Eureka.!

[@louismastrangelo3781]

Very nice, beautiful work of music and performed very well!

[@MrKlemps]

Hugh Wolff is one of the very few conductors to give the silences at the end their full due, but visually his beating of the time through them is most disconcerting and really purpose-defeating. He is also among the very best--comparable to Koussevitsky--at realizing the amazing metamorphosis of the second movement from out of the first. (Most conductors get too fast too soon.) A fine, fully-felt and intelligently directed performance by this vastly underrated conductor.

[@KDaniel0271]

I think the beating at the end is for the benefit of the players, to ensure that those isolated pulses are together.

[@professorgraemeyorston]

Fantastic symphony, beautifully performed.

[@richardjx5442]

Sibelius’ horn sound is unique in the orchestral repertoire, always as simple as possible yet luxuriant and strong, not like much of the works of Strauss which are often more like Olympic gymnastics‼️Listen to the ending of his Nightride and Sunrise‼️✅💥

[@anjalialaniz]

Those horns ARE RRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYYY going for it in the last mvt. when the key change happens in the swan theme!!!!!!!

[@stevenj9970]

Total Sibelius from bar one!! Wolf. Wonderful conductor. Wonderful orchestra.

[@ВладимирУ-т3ц]

Ян Сибелиус великолепный композитор! Браво оркестру Франкфурта!

[@aurelianojosemonteiro1398]

Gratidão amigos e amigas musicistas, pelos belíssimos trabalhos!

[@dabedwards]

I have heard this hundreds of times, and for me it was one of the best performances I have heard. It felt so natural, how it should be played. The tempi felt exactly right throughout and contrary to other opinions here, I liked the way he gave prominence to important solos. I have never really liked the second movement much, but he seemed to breathe new life into it, with some surprising intensity and change of pace. And as ever credit to marvellous technicians who give us a sound superior to many a studio recording. Thank you!

[@luigischlich6647]

Incredibile Sibelius.....potente e delicato, evocativo ,travolgente e sensibile, moderno e classico, scoperto casualmente 5 anni fa grazie a Mozart in the Jungle! Chissà che cos'altro mi sono perso nella vita ! Qualcuno ha qualche suggerimento ?

[@manuelgianella8937]

Anche io sto cercando. Come Sibelius sarà difficile. Forse Bruckner e Mahler, nonostante di idee diametralmente opposte, evocativi e cinematici.

[@luigischlich6647]

@@manuelgianella8937 Grazie per il consiglio ! Da poco un amico mi ha suggerito Rachmaninoff , purtroppo troppe cose alienanti da fare per il lavoro e poco tempo da dedicare alla musica ! E' bello comunque ricordare che c'è sempre tanto da conoscere !

[@manuelgianella8937]

@@luigischlich6647 Rachmaninoff lo trovo un ottimo consiglio, soprattutto i concerti per piano

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Janacek Sinfonietta

[@MD-md4th]

Terrible Sibelius! Wolff is in over his head.

[@graeme011]

What a wonderful performance!

[@brian5154]

3rd movement one of mankind's greatest creations..........

[@laurasosa3694]

Fantastische Leitung! Bravo aus Mexiko

[@studiompower7019]

Magnificent!

[@rodrigo9617]

9:10 here begins the passage from night to day

[@김기숙-r2l]

🇰🇷🇰🇷🇰🇷👍😊😇🙏고맙습니다...()...

[@graeme011]

Beautiful, just like I said last month.

[@nikollmerdhoci2018]

Wanderful orchestra

[@lilalola33]

Großartig !!

[@matzek.9119]

Sibelius gehört für mich zu den ganz großen Symphonikern. Alle seine Sinfonien haben etwas besonderes. Wahrscheinlich liegt es an der Natürlichkeit des Klanges gemischt mit Pathos. Sein Gespür speziell für die Blechbläser ist etwas ganz besonderes, was ich soweit von keinem anderen Komponisten kenne (Ausnahme Mahler)

[@PeterFellin]

Great orchestra!

[@lucatancredi]

1really wonderful!!!!! 30/01/2020, 1A liceo Beccaria

[@joelhenderson4450]

Sibelius: Those who like him, like him a lot.

[@noriemeha]

He is the Marmite composer of the 20th century

[@thebarbaryghostsf]

You can tell that the 3rd movement was very influential on Joe Hisaishi's style.

[@halitmarmaris]

Thank you 🎵

[@flowresonance1248]

this has to be the most troll V-I ending in classical music history :D

[@ДмитрийКоростелев-н3в]

👍👍

[@yu-mik6150]

violin excerpts 24:08 28:53

[@johnvaughan7096]

How reassuring to see Sam's face as soon as the piece starts. The orchestra is still great in 2020 but, Oh My Darwin, how we miss Herr Seidenberg!

[@hansjuergenkohlhaas871]

His successor is world class as well.

[@musickalxf]

Three ways to enjoy Sibelius 5 and 2. When you want to fall asleep. As background during your daily tasks. Best of all - when you’re able to give them your full attention. Lol.

[@spacepatrolman]

25:01 THEME

[@truetube5190]

most beautiful thing i’ve ever heard

[@coosoorlog]

that's the one

[@Katharating]

First Class - Beach Baby (1974) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2O7eYavraqDn6c :D

[@benedicta8237]

AH YES IM LOOKING THIS PART EXACTLY, THANK YOU

[@이성호-t3q]

좋습니다!

[@jsaenz5968]

28:20

[@Dylonely_9274]

Masterclass

[@leocadieux6781]

10:24 12:35

[@juancamacho5746]

El final es muy parecido a la música de la película El viaje de Chihiro

[@ГерманУстинов-з1х]

здорово!!!!!!!!

[@viniciuspanegacci8128]

Bravo

[@wolfgangresch1650]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@problemchimp4231]

Avoid listening to in Public...as it's so great, that makes me cry.

[@duffault05]

Kaunista musiikkia

[@leocadieux6781]

12:35 😃

[@davidparrish2534]

Nice..but best is Bernstein with the London phil. It is on Utube

[@Dylonely_9274]

U tube

[@88tongued]

The floutist who looks like T Roosevelt. What is his name?

[@OttoKuus]

Theodore Roosevelt I think

[@ericanderson3534]

11:36 is that really a low G on 4th Horn?

[@avrumgolub2735]

Yes.

[@avrumgolub2735]

Yes.

[@spacepatrolman]

9:18 STING CHORDS

[@spacepatrolman]

13:49

[@Girard-x7w]

Oh! The conductor resemble MIchael Tilson Thomas.

[@josephlow1102]

Not really - this conductor has a massive aquiline nose - different from Tilson Thomas's

[@Scriabin_fan]

Not really 🤨

[@fredericabauzit2822]

Très bien merci

[@mauriciovercesi5476]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@alessandroScardaci]

si sente l'anima di Sibelius

[@커플-h9u]

Vn 2:05

[@sweep67]

skip bayless??

[@ΜΟΥΣΙΚΗΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΙΑΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΗ]

ΜΠΡΑΒΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟ........

[@ipacyz8369]

Rusek

[@leocadieux6781]

As a Québécois, I can only identify with the music of Sibelius. Québec and Finland have a lot in common. For example, both had been dominated by minority groups (English/Canadians in Québec, Russians and Swedish in Finland) Québec hasn’t yet achieved independence, unlike Finland, but it will come :)

[@ВладимирУ-т3ц]

А какую провинцию в Канаде заберут себе украинцы?

[@dominik13579]

Skip Bayless on the stick

[@gugobsn2718]

omg I thought I was the only one who thought that

[@richrol58]

He seems to be getting along fine with the orchestra...??😂

[@josebenejama5398]

0

[@aqueous3051]

Terrible finale chords

[@MD-md4th]

Everything is out of balance here. Blame must be placed on the conductor. There are segments that are done well, such as the end of the first movement, and the hymn theme from the finale. But overall he is too free with tempi, resulting in a sense of chaos rather than growth. He drives and emphasizes too much, with the result being a congested mess in fortes. He does not allow the lines and currents to relate with each other, bottling up the natural air and majesty, especially in the finale’s coda.

[@davidjared3402]

These seem like discerning comments, but to amateur listeners like me, this is way over our heads.

[@davidjared3402]

Which version is better? Bernstein and Vienna Phil, as someone mentioned below?

[@MD-md4th]

The Bernstein/VPO version is uneven. The old Bernstein/LSO performance is superb. My favorite is Paavo Berglund and the Helsinki Philharmonic. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2enc2ebfMtjaJI m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJqun2iBg8arprc

[@philiphamon6200]

I don't think it's as bad as that. I often hear a dance-like quality to the overall rhythmic drive of the piece. Sibelius' emphasis in my mind has always been on the melodic quality of all the orchestral voices as a whole and how they intersect. This is what opens the piece up to a lot of different interpretations and gives it a timeless quality in the modern classical repertoire. While it may not be an perfect performance, it is excellent.

[@andreiloas]

I don't know what "chaos" you're seeing here, but compared to over 80% of the trash versions out there, this interpretation really stands out as balanced, clear and full of purpose. If this is chaos, I really dont know what version would do this work "orderly" justice. It's one of the greatest challenges in conducting to get this right, and this is an excellent attempt at it.

[@А.А.Зинковский]

A boring interpretation, compare with Dausgaard's one here on YT

[@Opoczynski]

Try Salonen and the Swedish Radio Symphony.

[@frankborder]

@@Opoczynski I'd rather have shards of glass in my eyes than listen to the musicless Salonen Ashkenazy is the supreme Sibelius interpreter But yes this Wolff ain't so great

[@Opoczynski]

@@frankborder Well, that's your opinion. You stick to it and I'll stick to mine. The "musicless" Salonen is great.

[@joshM__]

Everyone stop lying... This IS a great performance, but Sibelius sucks!