As for Rouvali, I stand by my reviews of both his Sibelius as exceptionally good. I have heard him live a couple of times with mixed results - his Mahler is a work in progress - but he is like Klaus Mäkelä - a young Finnish conductor with much to offer but isn't going to get everything right...yet.
The Royal Classics is a licenced EMI set that pre-dates the EMI/Warner re-release. Sticking with the latest Warner iteration is just fine and sonically probably just a bit better than the Royal Classics. Sanderling is excellent but like you Berglund/BSO is my go-to Sibelius. But interesting to hear his other 2 sets too as he moves from Romanticism with the BSO to something more objective in Helsinki and then the positively objective COE set.
Rouvali (the love child of Harry Potter and Bilbo Baggins) you can keep.
Thanks for the tip Ralph! I was not aware of Royal Classics - all sorts of ex EMI goodies and as you say inexpensive.
I am not familiar with the earlier Berglund set, Mike, but as it is a favourite of yours I have ordered it (not on Warner but the Dutch Royal Classics label, as it was indeed very cheap!). I'll let you know what I think.
Another excellent appraisal from Mr Moore. Can I just point out that the even better Berglund/BSO set is available for around £10 and it includes a few extras.
I have 18 full sets and this is the one I keep returning to, although I have high hopes for Rouvali.
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