The years spanned by this seven-disc Warner Classics collection coincide with the peak years of Jean Sibelius' popularity. At that time, he was widely regarded in Western countries as the greatest living composer, though he had essentially stopped producing major works after the mid-1920s, when he wrote the Symphony No. 7 in C major, the incidental music to The Tempest, and Tapiola. This 2015 set marks the 150th anniversary of Sibelius' birth, and generously offers vintage recordings of his 7 Symphonies, the Violin Concerto, Finlandia, Pohjola's Daughter, Night Ride and Sunrise, The Oceanides, the String Quartet in D minor, "Voces intimae," songs, and other works. The selections were recorded by Sibelius' strongest advocates, such as conductors Robert Kajanus, Adrian Boult, Thomas Beecham, and Serge Koussevitzky, violinist Jascha Heifetz, the Budapest String Quartet, soprano Marian Anderson, pianist Gerald Moore, and many others. There is also the rare 1939 recording of Sibelius conducting his Andante festivo, probably his only extant recording. This is a collector's set, considering the historical importance of the recordings, though it may be less enjoyable for newcomers and other listeners because of its limited analog sound quality. by Blair Sanderson
