Donald Scarinci wrote:

>Naxos puts out a DDD Sibelius 7th.  It is by LEAPER/SLOVAK PHIL ORCH.  The
>price is a cool $5.00.  Is the performance and sound quality there or is
>there a better Sibelius 7th out there?

If you want a digital Sibelius 7th at a cheap price, you'd be a lot
better off with the Ashkenazy/Philharmonia, on one of those London "Double
Deckers".  You get 2cd's for about $15 (only slightly more than Naxos per
disc) with not only a sublime 7th but also the 3rd, 5th, 6th and the tone
poems En Saga and Tapiola.  Ashkenazy's is the best digital 7th I've heard,
and the other syms come out great as well.  Only his 5th doesn't contend
with the best, but it ain't exactly chopped liver either.  Don't get the
Leaper.  It got many bad reviews.  The 7th in particular really suffers
from a less than superb interpretation.  I know sound is a big priority for
you-- the Ashkenazy ones are early digital but I think they sound great.
The balance between wind and strings, so essential in Sibelius, is just
perfect.  Everything very clear, not too much reverberation.  I keep coming
back to these performances.

Jon Lewis
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