The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra can with justification be regarded as 'Sibelius's own orchestra', as it was this orchestra, usually conducted by the composer, that premiÃ¨red most of his major works. On this disc of three such pieces, the orchestra is conducted by Susanna Malkki; the recording follows on from their three acclaimed albums devoted to the music of BartÃ³k. Although they were all later revised, the three works on this recording all originated within a very short period in Sibelius's career: the years 1893-96, a time when he was beginning to establish himself as a composer and a time of national awakening. One of his most popular works, the Karelia Suite is drawn from a series of tableaux that evoked events in the history of Karelia, the region where Finland and Russia meet. In late 19th-century Finland, the promotion of Karelian folk culture was both fashionable and politically relevant. The short suite Rakastava [The Lover] is a subtle reworking of a work for male voices based on lyrical poems from the collection Kanteletar; Sibelius often conducted it in concert. Sibelius often drew inspiration from the Finnish national epic Kalevala, and episodes from this poem provide the subject matter of Lemminkainen, a substantial four-movement suite (including the captivating Swan of Tuonela) that recounts the adventures of a daredevil hero, a sort of Nordic Don Juan.

Tracklist:

Karelia Suite, Op. 11~I. Intermezzo. Moderato
Karelia Suite, Op. 11~II. Ballade. Tempo di menuetto
Karelia Suite, Op. 11~III. Alla marcia. Moderato
Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~I. The Lover. Andante con moto
Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~II. The Path of His Beloved. Allegretto
Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~III. Good Evening!...Farewell!. Andantino - Doppio piÃ¹ lento - Lent
LemminkÃ¤inen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~I. LemminkÃ¤inen and the Maidens of the Island
LemminkÃ¤inen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~II. The Swan of Tuonela
LemminkÃ¤inen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~III. LemminkÃ¤inen in Tuonela
LemminkÃ¤inen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~IV. LemminkÃ¤inen's Return

UPC: 7318599926384
Label: Bis
Release Date: 2.16.24
Format: CD

Sibelius / Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra - Karelia Suite Rakastava Lemminkainen (Hybr) (CD)