Sibelius: Swanwhite Suite / Belshazzar's Feast Suite / The Dryad / Dance Intermezzo / Pan and Echo
1/31/1988, 14 Tracks, 53:05
Featuring
Neeme Järvi
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Jean Sibelius
Did you know?
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Composer Biography
Sibelius admired August Strindberg, a Swedish playwright, and wished to collaborate with him, but their collaboration did not materialize until 1908.
Composition History
Sibelius composed incidental music for Strindberg's play "Swanwhite" hoping for close personal contact with Strindberg, but was disappointed as Strindberg never heard the score.
Performer Biography
Neeme Järvi, the conductor, was born in Tallinn, Estonia, and studied at the Tallinn Music School and the Leningrad State Conservatory.
Recording & Production
Neeme Järvi is engaged in recording projects of the complete orchestral music of Sibelius, Stenhammar, and Tubin for the BIS label.
Performer Biography
Neeme Järvi won first prize at an international conducting competition in Rome in 1971, leading to invitations to conduct major orchestras worldwide.
Critical Reception
Sibelius's incidental music for Hjalmar Procopé's play "Belshazzar's Feast" received critical acclaim at its 1906 premiere, overshadowing the author.
Compositional Technique
In "The Dryad," Sibelius unusually omits the timpani from an otherwise full orchestra and frequently uses a falling tritone motif.
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