Santtu-Matias Rouvali & GSO - Sibelius: Symphony No. 2, King Christian II - Hi-Fi News

Rouvali's Symphony No 1 created a storm of excitement and here some may be surprised by the restraint of the finale - especially if they know that live BBC SO/Beecham recording! Much dramatic use is made of rests in the Symphony and the fine production clarifies the wealth of fine orchestral detail Rouvali brings out. A fine complement to, say, the LSO/Monteux and Philharmonia/Karajan readings. You might think Rouvali's players were Finnish rather than Swedish such is their mastery of the music. And the coupled Suite is instructive: composed three years earlier, it has passing similarities in the writing.