Jean Sibelius

Sibelius: Symphony No 4, The Wood Nymph Valse Triste album review – Rouvali’s take is bold but not always brilliant

The Gothenburg Symphony are outstanding in this all Sibelius disc, but chief conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali’s fresh approach doesn’t always bring rewards

Andrew Clements

01, Feb, 2024 @2:30 PM

Prom 26: BBCPhil/Storgårds review – Barry takes us inside Kafka’s head

Gerald Barry’s deliberately muted new work, Kafka’s Earplugs, failed to make an impact in this venue, while James Ehnes was a deft and impressive soloist in Walton’s violin concerto

Andrew Clements

04, Aug, 2023 @12:28 PM

Romanian National Philharmonic Orch/Smbatyan review – Vengerov’s virtuoisty raises the temperature

The contemporary works were unengaging, but the Romanian Orchestra’s Tchaikovsky enthralled, and Vengerov’s bravura reading of Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto closed the concert in spectacular style

Clive Paget

06, Dec, 2022 @4:05 PM

BBCSO/Oramo Total Immersion: Sibelius the Storyteller review – hair-raising climaxes and soaring intensity

A day of concerts led by Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra explored the Finnish composer’s tone poems and songs, and made for a vivid - and special - experience

Andrew Clements

10, Oct, 2022 @9:24 PM

Sibelius: The Symphonies and Tapiola review | Andrew Clements's classical album of the week

The prodigious young talent has an exclusive recording contract with Decca but his debut – a Sibelius symphony cycle – is frustratingly uneven

Andrew Clements

24, Mar, 2022 @3:00 PM

Scenes from the Kalevala review | Andrew Clements's classical album of the week

Scenes from Finland’s national epic were set to music by many Finnish composers beyond the best known, Sibelius. These works by Klami, Madetoja and Pylkkänen deserve wider recognition, as these accomplished performances demonstrate

Andrew Clements

27, Jan, 2022 @4:15 PM

Poem of the week: Sibelius by John Greening

A meditation on the later years of the Finnish composer reflects more generally on creative renewal

Carol Rumens

04, Jan, 2021 @12:18 PM

Sibelius: where to start with his music

His music is seeped in the myths and the natural marvels of his homeland and helped articulate the struggle for Finnish independence, but it is his seven symphonies that confirmed his place as one of the most original symphonic composers since Beethoven

Andrew Clements

09, Sep, 2020 @11:01 AM

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos 4 & 6 review | Andrew Clements's classical album of the month

Hallé/Elder
(Hallé)
Mark Elder and the Hallé bring a sympathetic, powerful character to Sibelius’s enigmatic symphonies

Andrew Clements

13, Feb, 2020 @3:00 PM

Prom 25: Gabetta/BBCSO/Stasevska review – stirring and spirited

Dalia Stasevska established a strong rapport with orchestra and audience in fresh and fluid readings of Tchaikovsky and Sibelius, while Sol Gabetta gave shape and intimacy to Mieczysław’s cello concerto

Erica Jeal

07, Aug, 2019 @11:42 AM

Prom 20: Kuusisto / BBCSSO / Dausgaard review – strikingly unusual twists

A new take on Sibelius is played with tremendous conviction by the Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Martin Kettle

04, Aug, 2019 @1:25 PM

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto: folk, forests and the Moomins

The Proms favourite has worked with Greenpeace and scientists and wants to change the way we think, and listen. He explains why he is now bringing Finnish rune singing to the festival

Erica Jeal

31, Jul, 2019 @5:00 AM