Zachris Topelius, a Finnish writer whose texts Sibelius set, helped shape a pictorial idea of Finland for his countrymen and wrote in Swedish, like most Finnish poets of his time.
Composer Biography
Jean Sibelius and Sergei Rachmaninov, composers featured on this album, grew up relatively close to each other, with St Petersburg being a major musical hub for both.
Performer Biography
Jacques Imbrailo, the baritone on this album, received the Audience Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2007.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Snape Maltings, UK, across two separate sessions in September 2014 and July 2016.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Both Sibelius and Rachmaninov, despite their differing approaches to tonality, found a unique mode of expression in vocal miniatures, often reflecting a communion with nature.
Cultural Impact
Sibelius's song 'Giv mig ej glans' ('I seek no gold'), with its shunning of pomp, has become a sonic staple of Christmas celebrations in Finland.
Historical Context
Finland, Sibelius's home country, was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, of which Rachmaninov was a member.
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