Product description CD Review It's entirely possible that the Minnesota Orchestra was the most talked-about American orchestra in 2013 - despite the fact (or, regrettably enough, probably because) the musicians did not play a single concert in their home hall, due to a lockout that began in October 2012. This entry was meant to be just the latest installment in what was to be a complete cycle with Minnesota and their widely beloved, now former artistic director, Osmo Vanska. However, it will probably be their swan song. Even leaving aside the unfortunate timeliness of this release, the Minnesotans' traversal of Sibelius' First and Fourth Symphonies would still be a treasure. Vanska is a Sibelius expert (he's already made a complete cycle of his fellow Finn's symphonies with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra), but the band from Minneapolis proves not only that they are up to par - they set the bar. These are recordings brimming with vigor and grace. --Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR Songs of 2013, ISBN13: B00B7B0W7W ISBN10: B00B7B0W7W Material Type: audioCDProduct description CD Review It's entirely possible that the Minnesota Orchestra was the most talked-about American orchestra in 2013 - despite the fact (or, regrettably enough, probably because) the musicians did not play a single concert in their home hall, due to a lockout that began in October 2012. This entry was meant to be just the latest installment in what was to be a complete cycle with Minnesota and their widely beloved, now former artistic director, Osmo Vanska. However, it will probably be their swan song. Even leaving aside the unfortunate timeliness of this release, the Minnesotans' traversal of Sibelius' First and Fourth Symphonies would still be a treasure. Vanska is a Sibelius expert (he's already made a complete cycle of his fellow Finn's symphonies with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra), but the band from Minneapolis proves not only that they are up to par - they set the bar. These are recordings brimming with vigor and grace. --Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR Songs of 2013, ISBN13: B00B7B0W7W ISBN10: B00B7B0W7W Material Type: audioCD , ISBN13: B00B7B0W7W ISBN10: B00B7B0W7W Material Type: audioCD