TRACKLISTING
CD 1

1-3 Sibelius: Symphony No.5 in E flat major, op.82

4-6 Sibelius: Karelia Suite, op.11

7 Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre

8 Humperdinck: Hexenritt (from Hänsel und Gretel)

9 Liszt: Mephisto Waltz No.1

10 Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain

RECORDING INFORMATION
Alexander Gibson made a number of recordings for Decca which were originally released on the RCA Victor label. When these licences were up, the ownership of the recordings reverted to the original recording company, the Decca Record Company Limited. For this reason they have not received the kind of attention accorded to original Decca recordings.

However, they have achieved "star" status in the minds of audiophiles around the world because of their inclusion in The Absolute Sound recommended recording lists for the past twenty years.

This release of these recordings in 24-bit remastered sound should appeal to a broad spectrum of collectors. Musically, although Gibson recorded the Sibelius Symphony No.5 several times, he never really improved on this recording, which captures the LSO at the height of their early 1960s glory in fabulous sonics. The driving pulse of the final movement of the Sibelius, with a free use of rubato in the double bass line, has to be heard to be believed.