That work has a strange hypnotic effect on me. Despite the length (which is beyond my usual durability), i find it very relaxing.
Well, that's genuinely nice to hear, believe me; it had been its potential tendency toward "dustbins of discord[sp.]" that bothered me in terms of what it might have done for you - but then Jonathan Powell's performance is so wonderful as to sweep all before it...
I regularly take my portable Hi Fi into the garden and play some Finissey, since i find that it keeps the sparrows away from my strawberries. After just a few pieces, i find he has nothing of interest to me.
But does Finnissy[sp.] keep those sparrows from your raspberries? (or don't you have any raspberries?). Anyway, it wasn't so much your difficulties with Finnissy that bothered and/or puzzled me as much as those that you say you have with Debussy, Mahler, Strauss, etc.
Anyway, I am very pleased that you manage to derive something positive from one of my pieces and, once again, must pay all due tribute to its truly astonishing performer for his very important part in this...
THE OCEANIDES.
Just thought I'd mention that as we all now go on our way back once again to
S I B E L I U S . . .
Best,
Alistair