Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
First broadcast from 20060116 to 20070921.
Donald Macleod commemorates the 50th anniversary of Sibelius's death.
10 episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20070917 | By the age of 26, Sibelius had already established his reputation with the first of his symphonic masterpieces, marking him out as a standard-bearer of Finnish culture. This programme includes one of his most popular orchestral suites and the first in a line of tone poems that would thread themselves through his career over the next 30 years. The Kiss's Hope; Spring is Flying; The Dream; The Young Huntsman, Op 13 Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Bengt Forsberg (piano) En Saga Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor) Rakastava Accentus Chamber Choir Eric Ericson (conductor) Karelia Suite City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sakari Oramo (conductor). |
| 01 | 20060116 | Donald Macleod discusses Sibelius's relationship with his own country, Finland. Finlandia, Op 26, No 7 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Yoel Levi (conductor) Kullervo and his sister Karita Mattila (soprano) Jorma Hynninen (baritone) Laulun Ystavat Male Choir Neeme Jarvi (conductor) Tapiola: Philharmonia Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor). |
| 02 | 20060117 | Although he was a fervently patriotic Finn, Sibelius grew up speaking Swedish. Donald Macleod looks at the composer's relationship with Sweden and also with the bottle. Elegie from King Christian II Iceland Symphony Orchestra Petri Sakari (conductor) Sandels Estonian National Male Choir and Symphony Orchestra Parvo Järvi (conductor) Six Songs, Op 36 Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo soprano) Bengt Forsberg (piano) 7th Symphony Icelandic Symphony Orchestra Petri Sakari (conductor). |
| 02 | 20070918 | Sibelius's lifelong fascination for the Finnish national epic the Kalevala was the impetus behind many of his works. Donald Macleod introduces the suite salvaged from the wreckage of his first attempt at an opera, a series of legends about a devil-may-care adventurer with an eye for the ladies. The Broken Voice; Song of my Heart (2 Partsongs for male chorus, Op 18) Helsinki University Chorus Matti Hyokki (conductor) Lemminkainen Suite Lahti Symphony Orchestra Osmo Vanska (conductor). |
| 03 | 20060118 | Part of Sibelius's initial success in Finland was due to the fact that he was seen as a figurehead by the nationalist movement, keen to be free of their oppressive neighbour and master Tzarist Russia. We hear some of the pieces he wrote to help in that cause. Scenes Historiques 1 The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jarvi (conductor) Malinconia Truls Mørk (cello) Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano) In Memoriam Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jarvi (conductor) Oma Maa Ellerhein Girls School and Estonian National Male Choir and Symphony Orchestra Paavo Jarvi (conductor). |
| 03 | 20070919 | Sibelius had always wanted to be a virtuoso violinist, but an injury early in life together with crippling attacks of stage fright put this ideal well out of reach. However, it didn't stop him writing for the violin and Donald Macleod introduces one of the most popular concertos in the violin repertoire. Valse Triste Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor) Violin Concerto Maxim Vengerov (violin) Chicago Symphony Orchestra Daniel Barenboim (conductor) Pohjola's Daughter Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jarvi (conductor). |
| 04 | 20060119 | Donald Macleod looks at Sibelius' relationship with Germany and we hear a recording of Sibelius conducting his own Andante Festivo. Im Feld ein Madchen singen, Op 50, No 3 Katarina Karneus (mezzo soprano) Julius Drake (piano) Andante Festivo The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra Sibelius (conductor) Violin Concerto Kyung Wha Chung (violin) London Symphony Orchestra André Previn (conductor) 4th Symphony Mvt 1 Berlin Philharmonic Herbert von Karajan (conductor). |
| 04 | 20070920 | In his early 40s, Sibelius suffered debilitating health problems which, together with his ever-present financial worries, had a dramatic effect on his state of mind. Donald Macleod introduces some of the introspective works which resulted from this difficult time in his life. Night Ride and Sunrise Philharmonia Orchestra Simon Rattle (conductor) Voces Intimae (5th mvt) Gabrieli String Quartet The Bard City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sakari Oramo (conductor) Sonatina No 1 in F sharp minor Erik Tawaststjerna (piano) Luonnotar Soile Isokoski (soprano) Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jaarvi (conductor). |
| 05 LAST | 20060120 | Sibelius was caught smuggling on his first trip to Britain. The experience did not put him off and he visited again three more times, as Donald Macleod finds out. Valse Triste Boston Symphony Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor) Jubal Elisabeth Soderstrom (soprano) Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) Symphony 5 Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra Mariss Jansons (conductor) Luonnotar, Op 70 Karita Mattila (soprano) City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sakari Oramo (conductor). |
| 05 LAST | 20070921 | When Sibelius died in 1957 at the age of 91, he had acquired the status of national icon and the most famous musician in the world, in spite of the fact that he composed virtually nothing during the last 30 years of his life. Donald Macleod introduces a selection of Sibelius's final works, including some of the finest examples of his evocations of his homeland. Norden, Op 90 No 1 Anne-Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Bengt Forsberg (piano) Oceanides Lahti Symphony Orchestra Osmo Vanska (conductor) Three Humoresques for violin and orchestra, Op 89 Joseph Swensen (violin) Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor) The Tempest Prelude Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jarvi (conductor) Tapiola Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Leif Segerstam (conductor). |