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Episode details

Radio 3,46 mins

Sibelius: Symphony No 4

CD Review

Available for over a year

David Nice explores the available recordings of Sibelius's 4th Symphony and makes a personal recommendation. This magnificent symphony shows evidence of struggle or despair and many people hear a chilling bleakness in the work. While others see the influence of Sigmund Freud and the unconscious. In fact Sibelius himself called his composition "a psychological symphony". He also said "It stands as a protest against present-day music. It has absolutely nothing of the circus about it."

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