"...[Finley's] attention to text, mood, expression and emotion is excellent, as is his ability to build toward the climax of each song, whether it be powerful or tender.  His bass-baritone range and distinctive vocal color fit these songs perfectly...Diction, phrasing, shading, nuance and dynamic range are all exemplary...Recorded sound is full, rich and clean.  Don't miss it." 

Critics Choice

“...These songs ... are sung by Gerald Finley, who shows a remarkable range of expression throughout... Turn this CD up, and enjoy.”

Diapason D’Or 

Exceptional album

Sound 5/5    SACD Sound 5/5

‘Choc de Classica’

****

Performance ****          Recording *****

“...It’s Finley and Rautavaara, at Sibelius’s service, who make this a highly memorable disc.”

“Both Gerald Finley and Edward Gardner have been establishing themselves as perceptive Sibelians and this new issue shows their respective merits in abundance... All [songs] sound authentic and add to our experience of recognising the sheer quality of this song medium chosen by Sibelius over a period of many years. Gardner conducts his impressively sounding Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in two important orchestral works; Pohjola’s Daughter and The Oceanides ... Both show him to have an instinctive grasp of the Sibelian idio, one of the most idiosyncratic and original in all music... “  *****

Artistic Judgement: Excellent/Exceptional           Technical Rating:  Excellent/Exceptional

“... wonderfully sung by a full-throated Gerald Finley ... This is an exceptional Sibelius anthology.   Wonderful playing to from Edward Gardner’s Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ... Outstanding.”  

“... In the Stream of Life, has just been released on CD, and what a compelling work it is... The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Edward Gardner, infuses the music with a dark, subtle richness that is the ideal match for Finley’s voice ...”

"... This SACD will be a mandatory purchase for all who love the music of Sibelius as well as the countless admirers of the magnificent voice and exceptional musicianship of Gerald Finley and as such it fully deserves the highest possible recommendation."

"...The exceptional collaboration and friendship between the late Einojuhani Rautavaara and the internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Gerald Finley culminates in this unique album of orchestral songs by Sibelius, on which the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Edward Gardner. The album offers orchestrations, by Sibelius and others, of songs which Sibelius originally wrote for voice and piano, and includes the premiere recording of In the Stream of Life, seven songs orchestrated by Rautavaara for his friend."

Performance *****             Sonics (Multichannel) *****

"In every respect this is a wonderful and very special recording that will undoubtedly be one of my top recommendations for the coming year... This SACD will be a mandatory purchase for all who love the music of Sibelius as well as the countless admirers of the magnificent voice and exceptional musicianship of Gerald Finley and as such it fully deserves the highest possible recommendation."

 “... impressive if idiosyncratic programme.”

“... The measured beauty of Finley’s singing in these subdued songs conjures impressive wintry vistas. Other Sibelius songs fill out an imaginative programme and Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra create vivid musical narratives in Pohjola’s Daughter and The Oceanides.”  ****

“...The subtle, respectful orchestrations wrap around his [Finley] voice like a glove... Finley sings then all with his usual finesse and careful shading, reserving his full power for the few genuinely climatic moments, while alongside the songs Edward Gardner and his orchestra include very fine performances of three orchestral works. ..”   ****