Symphony No. 1 in E minor

Jean Sibelius

Mariss Jansons / Oslo Philharmonic

1990 Sounds fantastic.

Top choice. 'Sounds fantastic.' A 'gorgeous recording' that is very exciting. The second movement is 'otherworldly' with an 'ethereal quality,' and the 'string sound... is just gorgeous'.

Anthony Collins / London Symphony Orchestra

1952

The 'pick of his cycle.' This performance is 'just bristling with character and charm and vitality' from a 'real natural Sibelian'.

Robert Kajanus / London Symphony Orchestra

1930 Dim historical sound, but 'fairly good' for 1930.

The 'proverbial feeling of authority' from Sibelius's champion. It's 'idiomatic, very exciting,' and 'has a flow to it where it just sounds natural and inevitable'.