Seriously Sibelius

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Label: BIS

Cat No: BISCD1485

Barcode: 7318590014851

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Orchestral

Release Date: 2nd October 2006

Works

Sibelius, Jean

Humoresques (2) for violin and orchestra, op.87
In memorian, op.59, Trauermarsch fur Orchester
Lemminkainen Suite, op.22

» no.2 The Swan of Tuonela

Pieces (2), op.77 'Earnest Melodies'
Pieces (3), op.96
Presto in D major for string orchestra

Artists

Marko Ylönen (cello)
Jaakko Kuusisto (violin)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

Osmo Vänskä

Works

Sibelius, Jean

Humoresques (2) for violin and orchestra, op.87
In memorian, op.59, Trauermarsch fur Orchester
Lemminkainen Suite, op.22

» no.2 The Swan of Tuonela

Pieces (2), op.77 'Earnest Melodies'
Pieces (3), op.96
Presto in D major for string orchestra

Artists

Marko Ylönen (cello)
Jaakko Kuusisto (violin)
Lahti Symphony Orchestra

Conductor

Osmo Vänskä

About

The funeral march In memoriam, which is here presented in both its first and final versions, was inspired by the death of Eugen Schauman, who committed suicide after having assassinated Nikolai Bobrikov, the Russian governor-general of Finland, in 1904.

The Two Serious Melodies, first published in versions for violin, are heard here in the cello versions that Sibelius made for a cellist friend, and which were used at the first performance of the pieces. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela (the third movement of the composer’s Lemminkäinen Suite, here in a reconstruction of the original 1896 version) also tells of grave matters: the violent death of a hero from the Finnish Kalevala legends, and his resurrection by magic.

But the disc includes lighter moments as well, such as Humoresque No.1 (in its original version) and Valse chevaleresque, which at least the wife of Sibelius regarded – and therefore disliked – as a product of her husband’s late nights in Helsinki’s fashionable drinking establishments.

The varied programme, which includes world premières, is performed with accustomed expertise and dedication by Lahti Symphony Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä, aided by soloists Marko Ylönen and Jaakko Kuusisto, who have both appeared on a number of previous BIS recordings.