This is the next big Sibelius work Segerstam and his Helsinki Philharmonic have committed to SACD, now that they concluded their survey of all the Sibelius symphonies. It’s a perfect choice since some regard this sprawling work as the composer’s Eighth Symphony. It’s premiere marked the big launch of the composer’s career, though later he downplayed it as an early attempt that wasn’t that good. It’s certainly received plenty of recordings, though, including many SACDs.
This one has the advantages of the all-Finnish group of performers, of which the Helsinki University male choir – with a 125-year history – is a standout. Plus the excellent 5.0 channel original DXD recording converted to multichannel SACD. As with several other Sibelius works, Kullervo draws from the Finnish epic the Kalevala, whose mythical legends tell the story of the ancient Finns. The work is in five sections, of which only the third and last employ the soloists and chorus. Following the Introduction, we have Kullervo’s Youth, Kullervo and His Sister, Kullervo Goes to Battle, and Kullervo’s Death. The hero meets and is intimate with a maiden he later finds is his sister. Upon learning their relationship, she drowns herself, he goes to battle, and then commits suicide. Those ancient Finns lived violently.
The soloists are first rate, and Segerstam brings out a more lyrical and tender effect than some of the other recordings. The Youth section’s sad lullaby is especially heart-rending. Segerstam has some strong competition from another Scandinavian, Osmo Vanska on BIS. I believe I prefer the interpretation by Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony on their Telarc SACD, especially in the concluding orchestral section, Kullervo’s Death. But the Ondine effort is certainly a very fine one.
– John Sunier
