Segerstan Conducts
Sometimes known as theFour Legends, these are Sibelius's  earliest tone poems. Although very popular during the composer's lifetime, he  eventually discouraged performances of two:Lemminkainen and Maidens of  SaariandLemminkainen in Tuonela. This was a real pity, for they  contain some fantastic music, and all four make a perfectly natural and  listenable cycle.Tapiola, on the other hand, was Sibelius's very last  tone poem. A haunting study of Finland's northern forests, it features one of  music's most terrifying storms. Leif Segerstam really pegs the storm, and just  about everything else, in this superbly played and recorded collection. Very  enjoyable.--David Hurwitz