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Cover: Henri Sigfridsson – Sibelius Symphonies 2 & 5 · (piano transcriptions)

Henri Sigfridsson

Sibelius Symphonies 2 & 5

(piano transcriptions)

Henri Sigfridsson, piano

ODE 1179-2 · CD · June 2011

Buy / listen

Henri Sigfridsson has made the first-ever recording of two Sibelius symphony transcriptions for piano

Track listing

7 tracks · 77:05

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Jean Sibelius

  1. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 (transcr. Henri Sigfridsson) 45:21
  2. 1 I. Allegretto 10:02
  3. 2 II. Tempo andante, ma rubato 14:20
  4. 3 III. Vivacissimo 6:55
  5. 4 IV. Finale: Allegro moderato 14:04
  6. Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 (transcr. Karl Ekman / Henri Sigfridsson) 31:44
  7. 5 I. Tempo molto moderato 13:20
  8. 6 II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto 9:25
  9. 7 III. Allegro molto 8:59

About this recording

This CD release features the popular Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 by Jean Sibelius, performed by Finnish pianist Henri Sigfridsson on piano.

Ever since its triumphant premiere, the Second Symphony has been one of Sibelius's most frequently performed works; of his symphonies, only the Fifth comes close in popularity. The works' grandiose Romanticism is brought into sharp highlight in these transcriptions for piano solo.

Henri Sigfridsson has used the Sibelius-sanctioned arrangement of the Fifth Symphony by Karl Ekman as a basis for his own adaptation of the Second Symphony. Following in the tradition of Liszt's Beethoven transcriptions, these arrangements are faithful to the original yet exploit the potential of the piano in many ways.

Henri Sigfridsson has emerged as one of the major musical talents from Finland since he won the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Bonn in 2005. This is his first solo album for Ondine.

Features

Booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish

Press

Die erst unlängst erstellte Transkription der 2. Sinfonie durch den jungen finnischen Pianisten Henri Sigfridsson darf man getrost als den Liszt'schen Übertragungen ebenbürtig bezeichnen. (...) Sigfridsson bewegtdie riesigen Klangmassen (...) mit staunenswerter Souveränitätund lässt zeitweise sogar die Originalversion vergessen. Mehr ist für einen Pianisten wohl gar nicht möglich.
Robert Nemecek, Piano News, Januar/Februar 2012

If you are a fan of Sibelius (...) then this is a must-have recording which will only enhance your appreciation of the great composer's genius. (...) All in all, I have to say this is a magnificent success, which was by no means my assumption in advance.
Dominy Clements, MusicWeb-International.com, September 2011

Sigfridssonin soitossa on sinfonista kirkkautta, ylväyttä ja sävyjen rikkautta.
Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti, 29/2011

The artists

Henri Sigfridsson

One of the major Finnish musical talents of his generation, pianist Henri Sigfridsson (b. 1974) has performed at major concert venues and European music festivals, including Salzburg, Lucerne, Ruhr, Gstaad Menuhin, and Lockenhaus. He has appeared with numerous orchestras throughout Europe and Japan under the baton of conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lawrence Foster, and Sakari Oramo, among others. Henri Sigfridsson has also given chamber music performances with artists such as Leonidas Kavakos, Gidon Kremer, Ivry Gitlis, Mischa Maisky, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Sol Gabetta, and Johannes Moser.

Full biography

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