The recording of Sibelius's incidental music to The Tempest on this album marks its return after over 85 years, as original copies were withdrawn by English authorities.
Composition History
Tapiola, Sibelius's final major work, was commissioned by American conductor Walter Damrosch and premiered in New York in December 1926.
Compositional Technique
Sibelius's incidental music for The Tempest includes a musical depiction of Caliban's crude drunken appearance and Ariel's groans and howls in 'The Oak Tree'.
Composition History
Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, completed in 1902, has been described as a 'hymn to nature' and a 'declaration of independence for the oppressed Finnish nation'.
Performer Biography
Sir Thomas Beecham founded the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932 and later established the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946.
Recording & Production
The recording of Sibelius's Symphony No. 2 on this album is the first time this specific version has been available for over 70 years.
Performer Biography
Sir Thomas Beecham, the conductor on this album, began including Sibelius's music in his repertoire in 1933 and continued to present it for the remaining quarter-century of his life.
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