Episode 3
Donald Macleod untangles the full, tragic saga of Sibelius's Eighth Symphony - from its conception, through the composer's years of self-criticism, to the work's final destruction.
In today's episode, Donald Macleod untangles the full, tragic saga of Sibelius' Eighth Symphony - from its initial conception, through the composer's years of tortuous evasions, mysterious allusions and lacerating self-criticism.tantalising periods of hope (as recorded in the composer's diary).and the work's final, devastating annihilation for all time.
We'll hear a series of chamber works written almost as a pressure release (or calculated avoidance?), as Sibelius struggled painfully with his magnum opus that never was.as well as a vintage 1933 performance of the composer's Seventh Symphony, conducted by a man who dreamed of giving the premiere of its successor: Serge Koussevitsky.
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Music Played
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Jean Sibelius
Canzonetta from Kuolema ("Death")
Arranger: Stravinsky Performers: The Avanti Orchestra / Jukka-Pekka Saraste
- BIS CD292.
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Jean Sibelius
Four Pieces for violin and piano, Op.115 [excerpt] (1929) (III. Humoreske)
Performers: Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Heini Kärkkäinen (piano)
- ONDINE ODE10462.
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Jean Sibelius
Five Esquisses, Op.114 (1928-9)
Performer: Erik Tawastjerna (piano)
- BIS CD278.
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Jean Sibelius
Suite For Violin and Strings, Op.117 (1929)
Performers: Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Danish National Symphony Orchestra / Thomas Dausgaard
- VIRGIN CLASSICS 545532.
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Jean Sibelius
Symphony no.7 in C, Op.105
Performers: Serge Koussevitsky / BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Live, Queens's Hall London, 15th May 1933.
- EMI 5659182.
Broadcasts
- Wed 20 May 200912:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 20 May 200922:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 19 Jan 201112:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 19 Jan 201122:00BBC Radio 3
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