Sibelius: Belshazzar's Feast & Other Orchestral Pieces

Featuring

Leif Segerstam
Pia Pajala
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean Sibelius

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Performer Biography

The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1790, is the oldest orchestra in Finland and has won awards for its recordings, including the EMMA Classical Album of the Year.

Composition History

Sibelius's incidental music for Belshazzar's Feast was written for a play by his friend Hjalmar Procopé, a journalist, poet, and playwright, and interrupted his work on the Third Symphony.

Performer Biography

Leif Segerstam, the conductor, has had a prominent international career, conducting in leading opera houses worldwide and serving as chief conductor for several major orchestras.

Composition History

The Overture in E and Scène de Ballet were originally conceived as the first two movements of Sibelius's first attempt at a symphony, but he later deemed his grasp of symphonic form unsatisfactory.

Composer Biography

Jean Sibelius, the composer, is so significant to Finland's national identity that his birthday, December 8th, is celebrated as Flag Day and the 'Day of Finnish Music'.

Compositional Technique

Sibelius's Wedding March has an unusual scoring, omitting bassoons and horns but including trumpets, trombones, and various percussion instruments.

Performer Biography

Pia Pajala, the soprano on this recording, is known for her wide vocal range, powerful expression, and extensive repertoire, particularly in contemporary operatic works.