Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor / Overture in A Minor/ Menuetto / in Memoriam

Featuring

Neeme Järvi
Silvia Marcovici
Göteborgs Symfoniker
Jean Sibelius

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Composition History

The definitive version of Sibelius's Violin Concerto premiered on October 19, 1905, performed by Karl Halir, leader of the Berlin Orchestra, and conducted by Richard Strauss.

Composer Biography

Sibelius's "In Memoriam" was played at his own funeral in 1957, alongside the slow movement of his Fourth Symphony.

Composition History

Sibelius initially promised the premiere of his Violin Concerto to Willy Burmester, a former leader of the Helsinki (Philharmonic) Orchestra, but due to severe money troubles, he had to employ Viktor Nováček for the first performance.

Composer Biography

Jean Sibelius, the composer, ardently studied the violin in his youth and achieved sufficient command to play the last two movements of the Mendelssohn Concerto in public as a student.

Composition History

Sibelius's wild drinking parties in Helsinki in 1903, with a group called the "Euterpist" circle, interfered with his work on the Violin Concerto.

Critical Reception

The initial performance of Sibelius's Violin Concerto in 1904 was not a success, as the soloist Viktor Nováček's abilities were overstrained by the demanding writing.