Ralf Oehlmann asked for our experiences of Sibelius symphony sets. I possess only the Rattle/CSBO set [CMS7 64118-2], given away free by "Gramophone" magazine as an incentive to subscribe in the early 1990s. EMI's distanced sound understates Sibelius' rhythmic vigour, but adds a wonderful luminosity to his scoring. Highlights in this set include: 1st Symphony & Oceanides: The CBSO violins whisper the slow movement's melody with more tenderness than any other orchestra I've heard, and Rattle paces the finale's rhetorical outbursts with more heart-stopping grandeur. I played this CD to help me recover from a frenetic and thoughtless performance by the BBC Scottish Symphony under Osmo Vanska at last August's Proms concerts. 2nd & 3rd Symphony: There are more thrilling and rugged 2nds from Barbirolli, Jarvi and Karajan. Rattle's build-up to the big horn theme in the 3rd's first movement is a real thriller. The divided cellos' lament in the slow movement is all the more moving for sounding so veiled. 4th & 6th Symphony: The 4th is suitably gaunt, but sounds even more cadaverous under Beecham (LPO 1930s). When I first heard the opening passage of Rattle's Sibelius 6, I had never encountered such a rare serenity and joy in music before. Other recordings (e.g. Karajan/BPO, Davis/LSO) have better articulation in the other movements, but none match Rattle for transcendent evanescence in the first. 5th & 7th Symphony, Scene with Cranes (Kuolema), Night Ride & Sunrise: Rattle's taut CBSO 5th is one of the very best, sounding less plush than his 1982 Philharmonia Orchestra recording. The Philharmonia's trombones provide a wonderfully fat and sonorous climax to Night Ride & Sunrise. I have not grasped the 7th Symphony - its mysteries elude me with every listen so far. James Kearney [log in to unmask]