Jean Sibelius

Series

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

2007

20070917

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

Donald Macleod commemorates the 50th anniversary of Sibelius's death.

1/5. 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).

By the age of 26, Sibelius was established as a standard-bearer of Finnish culture.

2007

20070918

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

2/5. 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).

Sibelius's fascination for the Finnish epic The Kalevala was the impetus behind many works

2007

20070919

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

3/5. 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).

Donald Macleod introduces one of the most popular concertos for the violin, Valse Triste.

2007

20070920

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

4/5. 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).

In his early 40s, Sibelius's health problems had a dramatic effect on his state of mind.

2007

05 LAST

20070921

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

5/5. 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).

A selection of Sibelius's final works, including the finest evocations of his homeland.

Episodes

Series	Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
2007	01	20070917	Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) Donald Macleod commemorates the 50th anniversary of Sibelius's death. 1/5. 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). By the age of 26, Sibelius was established as a standard-bearer of Finnish culture.
2007	02	20070918	Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) 2/5. 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). Sibelius's fascination for the Finnish epic The Kalevala was the impetus behind many works
2007	03	20070919	Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) 3/5. 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). Donald Macleod introduces one of the most popular concertos for the violin, Valse Triste.
2007	04	20070920	Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) 4/5. 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). In his early 40s, Sibelius's health problems had a dramatic effect on his state of mind.
2007	05 LAST	20070921	Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) 5/5. 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). A selection of Sibelius's final works, including the finest evocations of his homeland.