Decca - Herbert Blomstedt - The San Francisco Years - box set 15 CD
Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt arrived in San Francisco in 1985, after a decade with the Dresden Staatskapelle. Although Blomstedt did not have a marketable extroverted personality, he was in the right place at the right time. A contract was signed with Decca, and here are many of the memorable results, recorded between 1988 and 1995.
Blomstedt brought Central European repertoire back to the orchestra and the set includes Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler and Brahms. These records reveal a clear and agile orchestral sound. SFS was lightweight compared to its Chicago rival and in many ways better suited to recording.
Blomstedt's performances aren't eccentric, but they aren't boring either. There are lively versions of Mendelssohn's Scottish and Italian symphonies and a stunning selection by Hindemith. He excelled in the Scandinavian repertoire, so we have the entire Peer Gynt, Symphonies 2 and 3 from his excellent Nielsen collection, and two delightful symphonies by the underrated Berwald. From his investigation of Sibelius we get the First and Seventh Symphonies, as well as Tapiola. (Many of these well-filled discs run more than 80 minutes.) Rarities include works by Brahms for choir and orchestra, along with the alto Rhapsody sung poignantly by Jard van Nes.
@CUSTOMER_NAME@
@AUTHOR_PROFILE@ @COMMENT_ISO_COUNTRY@@COMMENT_TITLE@
@COMMENT_COMMENT@