Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Original Version) - Elina Vähälä /Hannu Lintu /FRSO

Jean Sibelius - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 (Original Version)
00:29 1. Allegro moderato
20:50 2. Adagio di molto
30:07 3. Allegro, ma non tanto
Elina Vähälä, violin
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

[@lakatos1683]

I can't imagine having to memorize this while the later version is already cemented in your ear. Wonderful playing and very interesting recording.

[@shawnchristopherwhite3271]

I'm studying it right now. Almost memorized. It's wonderful - Schott sells the solo violin score, very nice edition. I also known the revised - it's not difficult to switch between the two versions. PS - I know two Hungarian violinists, father and son here in Montreal, both named Istvan Lakatos - you related?

[@DerrickMims]

The 30-or-so seconds starting around 6:00 where the violin builds and then the orchestra comes in has always been one of my favorite moments in any piece.

[@mikeos1]

glad this is permitted. The Sibelius estate are very reluctant to allow performances of the original version. To my knowledge the only CD version is by Leonidas Kavakos.

[@guaguaboy79]

Love the 3rd mvt. so differently refreshing!

[@nikispaniki]

In all my years I have never heard this! How amazingly special!

[@SA-qx7fx]

WOW never knew or heard the original version, at first i thought the soloist was having memory problems, interesting how some of the flute/wind section plays the solo parts, i feel original does not have the same goose bumps feeling or cohesiveness as later versions, but still amazing performance!

[@dannyliu8866]

Bravo Elina! What a flawless performance,. Now I realize the real Sibelius with emotional attachments.

[@benjaminmorito1841]

19:36 That parallel octaves 😲👏

[@heifetz14]

One of the best orchestras in the world.

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Not true! Philadephia Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic are the best sounding Orchestras!!

[@Rodrigodbf]

The cadenza in the first movement (15:57-) is absolutely thrilling... It's magical. It is a pitty that it was pulled of the most known version of the concert (from which we can find 3 or 4 recordings easily in youtube). I prefer this version a thousand times...

[@naidadad9311]

Oh! Great! This is very different!

[@stephanedeschenes8181]

Vraiment incroyable exécution

[@stale.baguette]

I think the modern one is better musically than the og. But there are many moments i love in the original. Like the Dmajor? section in the first movement. And the 2nd cadenza for example

[@gitithadani]

Thank you so much! I have been looking to hear the original version/s & this was really an ear opener. Wonderful performance & rendering!!

[@markalanlongo]

What a gorgeous sound!!! What deep understanding of Sibelius!

[@iankemp1131]

Fascinating to hear this, makes me appreciate the final version even more. Many of the changes are to remove extra bits of orchestration which just got in the way of hearing the solo line. The organisation and structure are also tauter in several places. The biggest change is the loss of several minutes at the end of the first movement including a second cadenza passage. Interesting music, but it made the movement into a long untidy sprawl. A few "virtuoso" effects have also been removed which again seemed to distract from the music. So Sibelius' revisions changed it from a good piece to a great one, with more musical integrity. I still wonder if he could have done something better with the end of the finale though. It's an interesting parallel to his even more drastic revision of the Fifth Symphony which again gave a substantial net improvement.

[@echen1716]

I'm really glad Sibelius decided to change to the later version! This version just didn't have the emotional impact that the later version had

[@bomcabedal]

That may also be because you've internalized the "famous" version so much. I really only knew the original version (from the Kavakos recording) and it was a bit strange hearing the later one. I think there are things to like in both cases. Like with the original version of the 5th symphony Sibelius seems to go wild in the first instance and then pare it down afterwards. But it's _always_ interesting to hear those first thoughts. Having said that, I think this performance suffers from rather muddy sound; the Kavakos recording is much clearer.

[@Bacchusmbt]

Agreed! The original version needed editing, which of course Sibelius did for the standard version of the concerto.

[@user-gm1mf1xw7e]

한국초연 잘들었습니다 이렇게 듣게되어 영광이네요 감사합니다❤

[@lawrence18uk]

Wow, she plays the last movement fantasy bit at the beginning (semiquavers/16th notes) *in time*. As a timpanist one really appreciates this!

[@robinmiric2027]

Stupendous !!!!

[@Iggykoop]

I absolutely love this version. :)

[@booksandmusic2526]

I love how the conductor is enjoying the music at 06:37

[@taffles7498]

bro looks like he’s flapping his wings lmao

[@melfaraj4633]

There seems to have been more than one 'original' version of this work. Yesterday one such was broadcast in full on Classic FM played by Maxim Vengarov celebrating his 47th birthday! For a violinist this original version is far more interesting with virtuosic improvisatory embellishments and passages. Sibelius was a violinist who used to improvise to the sea!

[@iankemp1131]

The snag is that some of those virtuosic embellishments actually seem to get in the way of the musical argument, when you compare with the final version. Listening to this makes me feel even more that Sibelius' revision was right.

[@HNEnglish2030.]

어제 kbs fm 라디오 듣다가 중간부터 이 곡을 들었습니다. 워낙 좋아했던 곡이고 악보까지 사가며 펼쳐놓고 들었던 곡이었는데요. 어라? 카덴차도 아닌데 왜 이렇게 다르게 하는거지? 혼자 참 이상하다 또 재미있고 참신하다 이런 생각을 하면서 끝까지 들었습니다. 한국 초연이었다고 하네요. 유튜브로 다시 1악장부터 들어보니 1악장은 정말 많이 다르네요. 20대부터 알았던 사람의 10대 모습을 본 기분이었습니다. 정말 즐겁고 행복했어요 앞으로도 많이 많이 연주해주세요.~~

[@wuillymay8815]

I'm kind of impressed ❤

[@ColinWrubleski-eq5sh]

It is likely no one would say the revised version makes life EASY on the soloist... But the original is a significant leap forward, " another kettle of moo-goo-gai-pan", in terms of technical difficult. Yes, the Sibelius estate is being somewhat parsimonious in allowing performances of this original, but i like it, and wish more top-notch players would take it up for the sheer technical challenge, if nothing else...

[@anaroquea]

Hello! I just want to thank you for your beautiful performance of this piece in its original version. Do you have the score or this 1903 version you can share with me for studying purposes? Thank you in advance 😊

[@marcvilleneuve1889]

Sibelius made a masterpiece from the original version in his final manuscript. No doubt.

[@ILikeBirds]

Is this the original version sibelius wrote? Because once someone said the current one was simplified because the original was too difficult Edit: just read the title lol

[@hscutenako3029]

Sibelius modified the concerto because the original version just didn’t have such emotional impact to the audience, and most importantly, the audience didn’t like it

[@iankemp1131]

@@hscutenako3029 It feels as if he was right. The original first movement at 20 minutes just feels a bit too sprawling whereas the revised version clearly knows exactly where it is going.

[@lepolder]

wow!! The original version is GOOD!!

[@gilbertpangyarihan8014]

Sertifioitu intergalaktinen!

[@ColinWrubleski-eq5sh]

It seems as if this original version gives the violin soloist very little opportunity to rest (except for two tuttis passage in the recap). Combined with the presence of a difficult and lengthy second cadenza, somewhat akin to solo Bach (and / or the third movement Cadenza of the Christian Sinding Suite in alten style opus 10), and general considerable extended length, this must make life very taxing. The soloist here seems to dispatch things with no grief, however.

[@benjaminmorito1841]

Correct me if I’m wrong, is she using a Guarneri violin?

[@tylermoore8218]

It was actually made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini!

[@twosetclarinet4013]

It doesn’t project as well as a Guaneri or Strad but you can get tons of clarity from a Guadagnini

[@ramsescid5831]

Min 33:59 to 34:28 is unbelievably gorgeous!!!

[@emb74]

Lovely. But my favorite few minutes have always been from about 26:30 to 28:12. Especially 27:40 on.

[@ramsescid5831]

@@emb74 in this version of the concerto the entire section of celli play the melody along with the violinist at 33:59. It's a shame that Sibelius got rid of that magical moment in the "refined" version of the concerto. The Sibelius violin concerto is my favorite concerto. It is such a blessing being alive and listen to the discovered first version of it!

[@iankemp1131]

@@ramsescid5831 Yes, the orchestration is richer in this section than in the revision. That's apparent in many other places where it generally got in the way; here however it does seem something of a loss. The violin part has been altered here and in the previous half minute, and in this case the revised version seems much better although one beautiful phrase has been lost at 33:54.

[@lepolder]

이번 달 말에 이거 들으러 예술의 전당에 갈건데.. 기대됩니다!!

[@HNEnglish2030.]

부럽습니다 ㅎㅎ 어제 즐거운 시간이셨기를요~~

[@hyeunminlee9421]

​@@HNEnglish2030. 정말 놀랍더군요....

[@lottemojani]

@@hyeunminlee9421 어떠셨나요? ㅠㅠ

[@bakubaku4333]

Its not as good musically, but the Caprice-esque style held for 40 minutes is definitely something special for a violinist

[@user-ed9iu3pj4w]

R.i.p 학익진

[@user-jo3yh5fq5h]

괜히 개정한게 아니군... 개정판이 훨 낫다

[@ma5726]

the original is perfect forany reason . conscious ofthe distracting and too instrumental aspects of the theme, it is difficlt to understand and lacks the content to convey. dvorak concertoalso has this tendency.

[@shmalfie8674]

ngl, i prefer the 'easier' version

[@emmacantor3050]

Incredible Intelligence of the huma spirit. I am stunned and deeply so inspired. So very very powerful amazing intelligence, and loving collective intelligence. Thank you so very much!

[@aleksandersaski5387]

Habituation.

[@ColinWrubleski-eq5sh]

Frigging heck! Thomastik-Infelden should know MUCH better not to interrupt the coda of the first movt. with a jarring soupified version of "Spring" from The Four Seasonings [sic]. Tasteless, and unbelievably jarring...

[@ColinWrubleski-eq5sh]

On principle, i will hate and boycott "Hello Fresh" forever for daring to interrupt the nifty progress of the third movement with a stupid and irrelevant advert.~