London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis - Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 7 (2004) [SACD]

As it turns out, Colin Davis hums. He also moans, groans, and sometimes even grunts. In this enormous but intimate super audio CD, the listener can hear Davis' vocal obbligato as he uses any means necessary to convey his vision to the musicians. And while Davis' vocalise is sometimes annoying, there is no denying that he does convey his vision, because the musicians of the London Symphony Orchestra do perform with rare, passionate dedication. Certainly, the LSO is the most virtuosic of London orchestras and its playing on its own label has been more ardent than in many of its recordings for other labels in the '90s. But even compared with the LSO's fervent performances of the Sibelius symphonies with Davis in the '90s cannot compare with the fire of these 2003 recordings of the Third and Seventh. With the LSO's passionate virtuosity behind him, Davis creates nuanced but powerful performances, performances that are detailed yet sweeping, lyric yet epic, but, above all, loving. Davis and the LSO's Third is light but shot with shadows, poised but relentless, mysterious but triumphant. The Seventh is the sun cresting the snow-capped mountains, the wind rushing down from the peaks, their song soaring in the high, sharp air. Even though Davis does hum, anyone who loves Sibelius will have to hear these performances.