SIBELIUS:  Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43.  TUBIN:  Symphony No. 5 in B Minor
Cincinnati Symphony Orch/Paavo Järvi, cond. TELARC SACD 60585 TT:  73:25  (5.l channel)

Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 is available in many recorded performances superior to this new issue, but this CD is the only one yet available in surround sound.  The main interest here is Estonian composer Eduard Tubin's half-hour Symphony No. 5, a fascinating, dramatic work strongly influenced by Sibelius (see REVIEW). Timpani play an important part in this music, vividly captured by Telarc's engineers.The Cincinnati orchestra sounds as if it could use a few more high strings, but this is an attractive recording in many ways, with admirable playing time.

MAHLER:  Symphony No. 1 in D "Titan"
San Francisco Symphony Orch/Michael Tilson Thomas, cond.
SFS 821936-0002 TT:  56:14 (4 channel)

This is the second in the new San Francisco Mahler series (see REVIEWS of both).  This easily eclipses the other multi-channel Mahler First with the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel's direction, on Vanguard.  The multi-channel sound here is superb, natural in scope, wide in dynamic range, with plenty of low bass - even though there is no channel allocated for it.

R.E.B. (Next Surround Review)