Herbert von Karajan: Sibelius Symphony 1, Berliner Philharmoniker

Jean Sibelius - Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39
Berliner Philharmoniker
conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

1.Andante ma non troppo - Allegro energico
2.Andante (ma non troppo lento)
3. Scherzo (Allegro)
4. Finale (Quasi una fantasia - Andante - Allegro motto)


Jean Sibelius, egl. Johan Julius Christian Sibelius, 1865-1957, Finnish composer. Musician Name Jean Sibelius, which he used since 1886, is derived from the nickname Janne from childhood. Sibelius' native language was Swedish, but high school in Hämeenlinna Normallyceum in Hämeenlinna (fi. Hämeenlinna) demanded Finnish skills and gave him thus its bilingualism.

Despite precocious skills as a violinist and composer Sibelius began in 1885, studied law at the University of Helsinki. The following year he interrupted, however studies and became a student in composition with Martin Wegelius in Helsinki Musikförenings Music Department (as 1939 was the Sibelius Academy), later followed by studies in Berlin and Vienna.

After his return in 1891 he composed his first Kalevala-inspired work, Kullervo, showing an amazing safety in the treatment of choir and orchestra. 1890s poetic and political commitment culminated in 1899 with the symphonic poem Finlandia. It was received with enthusiasm as first and 2 Symphony (respectively 1899 and 1902), and a government scholarship allowed him to fully devote himself to composition. Sibelius' international fame grew steadily in the following years, he traveled a lot and had great success as a conductor of his own works. In 1926 he wrote his last orchestral work, the symphonic poem Tapiola, and in the last three decades of his life he composed not. For an eighth symphony, which according to his own messages to be completed 1929, is nothing more than delivered.

Works Committee
7 symphonies: No. 1 E minor, 1899; No. 2 D major, 1901-02; No. 3 C major, 1907; No. 4 A Minor, 1911; No. 5 Eb, 1915 - 19, No. 6 D minor, 1923; No. 7 C Major, 1924
Symphonic Poems: A Saga, 1892; Lemminkäinensuite, 1893-95 (No. 3: Swan of Tuonela); Finlandia, 1899; Pohjolas daughter, 1906; Nocturnal ride and Sunrise, 1907; Luonnotar, 1913 (with soprano solo); Barden, 1913 ; Aallottaret (Oceaniderne), 1914; Tapiola, 1926
Scene Music: Karelia, 1893; King Christian II, 1898; Kuolema (Death), 1903 (herein Valse triste), Pelléas et Mélisande, 1905; storm, 1925
Violin Concerto D minor, 1903, revised 1905; String Quartet D minor, Voces intimae, 1909; Piano Pieces, including 3 sonatinas, 1912; Romance Des-dur up. 24
Choral music and over 100 solo songs with piano, including Svarta Rosor; Saw, Saw, Susa; Demanten on marssnön; The första kissing; flickan came ifrån its älsklings meeting

Sibelius is primarily known for his seven symphonies and symphonic poems. His more than one hundred solo songs with piano, mainly to Swedish texts surpasses in quality his many small piano compositions, but - certainly for linguistic reasons - not achieved the distribution they deserve. Influences from Berlioz, Wagner and Tchaikovsky are completely assimilated into one from the outset deeply personal and compelling symphonic style. When every symphony has its individual characteristics, it is not least Sibelius' incessant quest to shape the plant from the musical material.

The crown of this development is the seventh symphony in which Sibelius realized generations quest for symphonic unity, as he summarizes the musical material in a continuous process, a thematic metamorphosis of overwhelming effect. Sibelius' undisputed rank as one of Finland's most important artist figures can be explained by the combination of his highly original style, his heartfelt solidarity with the Finnish nature and myth and his alleged historical-national consciousness. He had a genuine interest in folk music, but never tried to mimic or incorporate Finnish folk tunes in his musical universe.

Jean Sibelius died on 20.9.1957 in the evening, and during high profile train 17,000 people parting with the coffin at a memorial service at the cathedral in Helsinki on 29.9.1957. He is buried in the Ainola Farm in Träskända (fi. Järvenpää), which was his home from 1904 and today is a state museum.
Since 2011, Sibelius day, the Gulf of Music application's Day, has been selected as the official Flag Day in Finland on 8 December.