Lukas Foss conducts Sibelius from Buffalo

Here's a wonderful record, one which sort of heralded in a renaissance for the Buffalo Philharmonic in terms of recordings. Lukas Foss leads the BPO in the Four Legends from Kalevala by Sibelius. Cut in 1968, it was a byproduct of the second festival of the arts in the fair city of Buffalo. Nonesuch performed a great service by capturing these musical moments.

I always enjoy listening to Lukas Foss' musicmaking for it is inevitably well prepared and faithful to the score. Unlike his almost exact contemporary and friend, Leonard Bernstein, Foss was not one to interject too much of himself into a score to the point of overkill, nor was he a musician who relied on effect over substance. In short, the results of his work bear the stamp of honesty, integrity and intellect.
Glad I dug this one out while rearranging stuff in the cellar.

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Stig Westerberg conducts Sibelius

Here's the Westminster issue, XWN18529, of an original Swedish Discofil recording. Stig Westerberg leads the Swedish Radio Orchestra in works by Jean Sibelius namely, incidental music from The Tempest and the King Christian II suite. I think these recordings date from the early 60's and that Westerberg might have recorded the pieces again. I'm sure someone will be able to provide some further information.

Always interesting to hear the side of Sibelius not focused on dramatic and sometimes bleak symphonic masterpieces. An interesting listen though I would not consider this music memorable in a way like the second symphony or violin concerto. Those compositions are masterpieces and firmly, and rightly, established in the repertoire of the major soloists and orchestras of the world.


Stig Westerberg had a nearly 50 year career as a major, and highly regarded, conductor in Sweden and northern Europe. Nice record.

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