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Sir John Barbirolli was an early advocate of Sibelius’ music, and contributed to the Finnish composer’s rediscovery by adding it to the programs of his Hallé Orchestra concerts. Years before the glorious late 1960s cycle for EMI, he added some symphonies to his discography, for instance the second performed in 1952, here coupled with Sibelius’ hit "The Swan of Tuonela". Warner Classics releases this stunning recording as part of a brand new series, The Complete Warner Recordings. Spanning over 40 years, these recordings trace the career of Sir John Barbirolli, a conductor of proverbial warmth and generosity, a transformative force in British music and a legendary figure who collaborated with the greatest artists of his time. Shortly before his death in 1970 he completed a Sibelius cycle with the Hallé Orchestra, whose fortunes he had steered for nearly three decades, and among other composers closely linked with his name are Elgar, Delius, Brahms, Mozart, Mahler and Puccini. The wide-ranging contents of this landmark set, which comprises all the recordings Barbirolli made for HMV and PYE. Everything has been remastered in high definition, LP-era recordings from the original tapes, and 78-era recordings from the best available sources.