Many years ago, while I was a member of a school orchestra, we worked on “Finlandia”, one of the most well known works by Jean Sibelius.
On this recording we hear that work and much more.
Sibelius:
- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
- Finlandia, Op. 26
- Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Performed by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons conducting.The music of the symphonic poem “Finlandia”, op 26 – as it were the unofficial national anthem of Finland – became internationally known in 1900, and continues to be world-famous today, not only because of the hymn-like chorale that concludes it.
Sibelius’ “Karelia” Suite op. 11, composed some years earlier, became internationally famous as well.
The Symphony No. 2, op 43, the best-known and most popular of the composer’s seven completed symphonies, premiered in 1902. With this work Sibelius moved from being a national Finnish composer to becoming an international one.
Here is Mariss Jansons, leading a performance of the Second Symphony by Jean Sibelius:
