Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Rakastava & Lemminkäinen

Album review

Conductor Susanna Mälkki gained plenty of attention during her tenure as chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, which concluded in 2023; she made several recordings with the group, and some of these turned out to have commercial appeal. This one made classical best-seller lists in early 2024. Mälkki is most identified with 20th century and contemporary music, but here, she shows plenty of expertise in music by the most mainstream of Finnish composers, Jean Sibelius. Here, she and the Philharmonic essay some early Sibelius, which tends to be of a Wagnerian or a blood-and-guts cast, but the mature Sibelius is always lurking, ready to come out. There are some familiar pieces here; the Karelia Suite, Op. 11, is a picturesque work that is often performed everywhere, and The Swan of Tuonela, from the programmatic Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22, is a concert standard. Sample the latter for a taste of Mälkki's gifts; the sound is flawless and the performance elegant, but there is not a hint of fussy perfectionism, and go on to the darker, adventure-oriented final two movements of this suite. In general, Mälkki avoids overdoing these works, which can sound like Gilbert and Sullivan if they get out of hand. The three-movement suite Rakastava, Op. 14, which started life as music for a male choir, is not often heard, at least outside Finland, and it is another draw in a greatly satisfying Sibelius release. The three works were recorded at different times, but the album nevertheless emerges as a sonic and artistic whole.

© James Manheim /TiVo