Sibelius - The Rest Is Silence? (the Years 1925-1957)

Series

Episode

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

2009

20090518

20110117 (R3)

In the late 1920s, at the very height of his powers, Jean Sibelius abruptly and enigmatically put down his pen.For three decades until his death in 1957 at the age of 91, he was to produce virtually no new work - living out the rest of his life shrouded in silent mystery in the depths of the forests, north of Helsinki.

Or did he? In this week's Composer Of The Week, Donald MacLeod explores and explodes the mythology cloaking the last decades of Sibelius' life.a period not quite as 'silent' as legend might have us believe.

Today's episode outlines the background behind Sibelius' last, and perhaps greatest, major orchestral work, his extraordinary, terrifying tone poem Tapiola - as well as an unexpected pair of solemn and reverent church antiphons.not at all what you might expect from this master of orchestral colour.

Donald Macleod outlines the background behind Sibelius' tone poem Tapiola.

2009

20090519

20110118 (R3)

The years 1926-7 saw farewells to two of the greatest preoccupations of Sibelius' career. The cantata V䀀in怀n Virsi marked the end of the composer's lifelong obsession with the Kalevala, his nation's epic collection of ancient poems, chants and ballads.

Meanwhile, as one newspaper proclaimed: 'Sibelius and Shakespeare, two geniuses, have found each other'. Donald Macleod introduces an extended performance of Sibelius' Prelude and Suites of incidental music composed for a performance of The Tempest in 1926 - the last of no fewer than 11 theatre music works, spanning the composer's career.

Donald Macleod presents an extended performance of Sibelius' music for The Tempest.

2009

20090520

20110119 (R3)

In today's episode, Donald Macleod untangles the full, tragic saga of Sibelius' Eighth Symphony - from its initial conception, through the composer's years of tortuous evasions, mysterious allusions and lacerating self-criticism.tantalising periods of hope (as recorded in the composer's diary).and the work's final, devastating annihilation for all time.

We'll hear a series of chamber works written almost as a pressure release (or calculated avoidance?), as Sibelius struggled painfully with his magnum opus that never was.as well as a vintage 1933 performance of the composer's Seventh Symphony, conducted by a man who dreamed of giving the premiere of its successor: Serge Koussevitsky.

Donald Macleod explores the full, tragic saga of Sibelius' never-completed Symphony No 8.

2009

20090521

20110120 (R3)

In today's episode, Donald Macleod introduces the only existing recording of Sibelius conducting - a colourful rendition of his own Andante Festivo on New Year's Day, 1939.

We'll also hear the extraordinary Funeral Music for organ, written after the death of one of his greatest friends, the painter Akseli Gall退n-Kallela in 1931 - and usually considered his last work. Sibelius, by now wracked by writer's block over the Eighth Symphony, tried his hardest to wriggle out of his commitment to mark his friend's passing in music. But, unable to escape, he produced a bizarre, otherworldly soundworld.like nothing he'd ever written before.

So then: his last original work? Not quite. Donald explores the extraordinary story of Sibelius' music for the Freemasons.and we'll hear two brief pieces, apparently written in a single, fevered night in 1946 - the first new pieces for some 15 years, and the last Sibelius was to ever let see light of day.

With Donald Macleod. Late works for organ, plus the only recording of Sibelius conducting.

2009

05 LAST

20090522

20110121 (R3)

Donald Macleod explores the mythology cloaking the last decades of Sibelius' life.

He introduces a series of curious arrangements the composer made in his ninth and tenth decades, including a hymn for girl scouts. Plus a work that brings Sibelius' life and career full circle - his late revision of part of Kullervo, originally written as a young hopeful, some 60 years earlier.

Donald Macleod presents Sibelius' last arrangements, plus the finale from his 5th Symphony

Episodes

Series	Episode	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
2009	01	20090518	20110117 (R3)	In the late 1920s, at the very height of his powers, Jean Sibelius abruptly and enigmatically put down his pen.For three decades until his death in 1957 at the age of 91, he was to produce virtually no new work - living out the rest of his life shrouded in silent mystery in the depths of the forests, north of Helsinki. Or did he? In this week's Composer Of The Week, Donald MacLeod explores and explodes the mythology cloaking the last decades of Sibelius' life.a period not quite as 'silent' as legend might have us believe. Today's episode outlines the background behind Sibelius' last, and perhaps greatest, major orchestral work, his extraordinary, terrifying tone poem Tapiola - as well as an unexpected pair of solemn and reverent church antiphons.not at all what you might expect from this master of orchestral colour. Donald Macleod outlines the background behind Sibelius' tone poem Tapiola.
2009	02	20090519	20110118 (R3)	The years 1926-7 saw farewells to two of the greatest preoccupations of Sibelius' career. The cantata V䀀in怀n Virsi marked the end of the composer's lifelong obsession with the Kalevala, his nation's epic collection of ancient poems, chants and ballads. Meanwhile, as one newspaper proclaimed: 'Sibelius and Shakespeare, two geniuses, have found each other'. Donald Macleod introduces an extended performance of Sibelius' Prelude and Suites of incidental music composed for a performance of The Tempest in 1926 - the last of no fewer than 11 theatre music works, spanning the composer's career. Donald Macleod presents an extended performance of Sibelius' music for The Tempest.
2009	03	20090520	20110119 (R3)	In today's episode, Donald Macleod untangles the full, tragic saga of Sibelius' Eighth Symphony - from its initial conception, through the composer's years of tortuous evasions, mysterious allusions and lacerating self-criticism.tantalising periods of hope (as recorded in the composer's diary).and the work's final, devastating annihilation for all time. We'll hear a series of chamber works written almost as a pressure release (or calculated avoidance?), as Sibelius struggled painfully with his magnum opus that never was.as well as a vintage 1933 performance of the composer's Seventh Symphony, conducted by a man who dreamed of giving the premiere of its successor: Serge Koussevitsky. Donald Macleod explores the full, tragic saga of Sibelius' never-completed Symphony No 8.
2009	04	20090521	20110120 (R3)	In today's episode, Donald Macleod introduces the only existing recording of Sibelius conducting - a colourful rendition of his own Andante Festivo on New Year's Day, 1939. We'll also hear the extraordinary Funeral Music for organ, written after the death of one of his greatest friends, the painter Akseli Gall退n-Kallela in 1931 - and usually considered his last work. Sibelius, by now wracked by writer's block over the Eighth Symphony, tried his hardest to wriggle out of his commitment to mark his friend's passing in music. But, unable to escape, he produced a bizarre, otherworldly soundworld.like nothing he'd ever written before. So then: his last original work? Not quite. Donald explores the extraordinary story of Sibelius' music for the Freemasons.and we'll hear two brief pieces, apparently written in a single, fevered night in 1946 - the first new pieces for some 15 years, and the last Sibelius was to ever let see light of day. With Donald Macleod. Late works for organ, plus the only recording of Sibelius conducting.
2009	05 LAST	20090522	20110121 (R3)	Donald Macleod explores the mythology cloaking the last decades of Sibelius' life. He introduces a series of curious arrangements the composer made in his ninth and tenth decades, including a hymn for girl scouts. Plus a work that brings Sibelius' life and career full circle - his late revision of part of Kullervo, originally written as a young hopeful, some 60 years earlier. Donald Macleod presents Sibelius' last arrangements, plus the finale from his 5th Symphony