How do you find BEST classical recordings???

Tweekerman, that's a bit of a generalization there... comparing the Berlin Phil in favor of the Iceland Sym. Yes the Berlin Phil can sound sterile at times, esp. on DG recordings and esp. when levine is at the helm, yes the Iceland Sym. sounds much better than you would expect from such a small country.... but that comparison is ridiculous. The Berlin Phil blows away the Iceland Symphony. In every respect. I know, I am one of the principal string players on that Iceland Sym. Sibelius set. I just got that recording, I have major problems with it. Terribly recorded, and the performance has holes all over the place. It does have a good deal of nordic spirit and enthusiasm, but as an orchestra, it is really is a "B" grade band. The performance lacks cohesion for one, has ensemble problems, and the intonation in the winds and brass???.
Next time the Berlin Phil is in your town, go hear them. They are the best orchestra in the world, period.

Tweekrman, several things...
it is Petri Sakari/Iceland, Panula is only conducting a Finnish orchestra on one of the smaller works in the set.
I was a principal string player in these recordings at the time. (this was about 5-6 yrs ago)
I don't think much about most critics today. So that is a moot point. I say trust your ears and heart, if it floats your boat, that that's all that matters.
I'm glad you like these recordings, they have "something".
Have you heard Beecham's Sibelius? That is a nice performance. Its true what you say about the qualities of the orchestra and recording... I guess what I miss is a cultivation, a refinement.... which I guess is kind of the opposite of nordic spirit that we are talking about, the primal sort. Oh well, I guess you can't have everything always. But that said, those strengths are also their downfall.

I'll check out the Frank recording, thanks for the tip. Sibelius is a deceptively difficult composer to get right, particularly in regards to color and spirit. I guess my true alltime fav of a sibelius recording would be the Ginette Neveu Sibelius Vln concerto. The finns are special people.