Sibelius: King Christian II, Pelleas et Melisande & Swanwhite

Featuring

Petri Sakari
Daði Kolbeinsson
Monika Abendroth
Sauli Tiilikainen
Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Jean Sibelius

Did you know?

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Recording & Production

This recording was made possible through the special cooperation of the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service.

Compositional Technique

The 'Musette' from 'King Christian II' originally mimicked the sound of bagpipes and chalumeau (an early clarinet) using two clarinets and two bassoons.

Performer Biography

Petri Sakari, the conductor on this album, has held permanent positions with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Gävle Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Composition History

Sibelius's suite from 'King Christian II' was his first orchestral work published by the influential Berlin firm of Breitkopf.

Composition History

The play 'Swanwhite' by August Strindberg (a leading modern dramatist) was inspired by his third wife, Harriet Bosse, who also suggested Sibelius as the composer.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Sibelius's incidental music, unlike Hollywood film scores, often framed static 'moments' in a play rather than underscoring developing events.

Performer Biography

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Iceland's national orchestra, has grown from a part-time ensemble of forty players to an internationally renowned orchestra of eighty-five full-time musicians.