The Legend of Jean Sibelius (Incls Violin Concerto in D minor & Karelia Suite)

"Long term collectors will have most of this set already, but it is a boon for everyone else (the vast majority), because it brings together earlier and less well known material. The notes are relatively simple, and seem aimed at listeners coming to Sibelius for the first time. In any case, you can't "know” Sibelius without what BIS, Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony have contributed."
(MusicWeb jan 2006)

On The Legend of Jean Sibelius, we get almost two and a half hours of the Finnish master's best loved orchestral works ranging from Finlandia and Valse Triste to the Concerto for Violin.

During the past 15 years, and on the strength of some 20 Sibelius releases on BIS, Osmo Vänskä and Lahti Symphony Orchestra have set the standard when it comes to interpretations of their compatriot's works. These recordings have garnered the highest possible acclaim from reviewers, awards such as Gramophone Award and Cannes Classical Award, as well as innumerable distinctions ('CD of the Month' etc.) from a large number of international music magazines. From this treasure trove an 'Essential Sibelius' collection has been compiled – a programme which, starting with En Saga (1892) and ending with Tapiola (1926), covers the greatest portion of the composer's creative life, before Sibelius fell silent in his beloved country house in Finland – the legendary 'silence from Järvenpää'. With its accompanying detailed booklet, giving a thorough introduction to Sibelius as man and as composer, as well as a presentation of the individual works, this release is a Sibelian crash course, highly suitable for both the uninitiated and those who wish to revisit some of the great masterpieces of 20th century music in some of the finest recordings ever made of them (1926), covers the greatest portion of the composer's creative life, before Sibelius fell silent in his beloved country house in Finland – the legendary 'silence from Järvenpää'. With its accompanying detailed booklet, giving a thorough introduction to Sibelius as man and as composer, as well as a presentation of the individual works, this release is a Sibelian crash course, highly suitable for both the uninitiated and those who wish to revisit some of the great masterpieces of 20th century music in some of the finest recordings ever made of them.