Jean Sibelius, known internationally for his orchestral works, was a violinist himself, but composed more pieces for piano than for violin among his miniatures.
Historical Context
Sibelius's orchestral work Finlandia was written in response to the 1899 February Manifesto by Tsar Nicholas II, which aimed to restrict Finland's autonomy within the Russian Empire.
Composer Biography
Ilmari Hannikainen, a composer on this album, was the most significant Finnish pianist of the early 20th century and a professor of piano at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Composer Biography
Aarre Merikanto, another composer featured, studied with Max Reger at the Leipzig Conservatory and wrote most of his significant works in the 1920s.
Performer Biography
Terhi Dostal, the pianist on this album, is known for her interpretation of Finnish music and has focused her career on the music of Johannes Brahms, playing all his piano compositions in concert series.
Critical Reception
Aarre Merikanto's compositions were considered too radical for audiences and critics of his time, leading him to destroy some of his works and adopt a more traditional style.
Composer's Artistic Vision
As a composer, Ilmari Hannikainen was a Romanticist whose music was clearly influenced by French Impressionism.
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