Sibelius's later violin and piano works, Op. 115 and Op. 116, are among his most experimental, exploring new textures and making few concessions to popular taste.
Instruments
Sibelius's personal violin was a Jakobus Stainer, a highly regarded 17th-century violin maker, which his uncle purchased from an itinerant trader.
Performer Biography
Joseph Tong, the pianist, has performed Sibelius's music at Ainola, the composer's home, on Sibelius's original Steinway grand piano.
Performer Biography
Fenella Humphreys, the violinist on this album, won the 2018 BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award and is known for championing new and unknown music.
Composer Biography
Jean Sibelius, the composer, developed a lifelong passion for the violin as a teenager but started too late to become a virtuoso.
Composition History
The Op. 78 and Op. 81 pieces for violin and piano were composed by Sibelius between 1915 and 1918 to provide income during World War I, when his earnings from German publishers plummeted.
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