Sibelius’s famous piece. Popular classical music.

Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47Esa-Pekka Saronen/Suuwēden Hōsō Kōkyō Gakudan

Valerio Ferron 2018 “Ysaye” Valerio Ferron violin performance video / Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

The Violin Concerto in D minor, Op.

47, was composed in 1903 and revised two years later in 1905.

Sibelius originally aspired to be a violinist but gave up due to stage fright.

This is the only violin concerto he left behind.

Symphony No. 3Esa Pekka/Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Sibelius – Symphony No 3 in C major, Op 52 – Salonen

Symphony No.

3 in C major, Op.

52 was composed in 1907.

Although Sibelius had already achieved international success and fame by then, he is said to have been struggling with health and financial issues in his personal life.

In the midst of this, he moved to a nature-rich area in the northeastern suburbs of Helsinki, and it was there that he composed his Symphony No.

3.

Symphony No. 4Herbert Blomstedt/Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Sibelius 4 Symphony Herbert Blomstedt Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Symphony No.

4 in A minor, Op.

63 was composed in 1911.

Although Sibelius was in poor health, during this period he also underwent surgery to remove a tumor in his throat.

It feels as though the emotions born from that battle with illness—anxieties as well as hopes—are embedded in this symphony.

Suite ‘Princess Swan’Yondāni Batto/Roiyaru Firuhāmonī Kangen Gakudan

Sibelius “The Swanwhite,” Op. 54 – No. 7 “Song of Praise” (software synth version)

The suite The Swanwhite, Op.

54, was composed in 1908 as incidental music and as an orchestral suite.

It is incidental music for a play by Strindberg.

After the play’s performance, Sibelius arranged the incidental music into a suite of seven movements.

Today, the suite is the version most frequently performed.

Sorrowful WaltzSibelius

Jean Sibelius, Valse Triste (orch.Herbert von Karajan)

Sibelius composed incidental music called Valse Triste for the play Kuolema (Death), written by his brother-in-law, the playwright Arvid Järnefelt.

He revised one of the numbers and published it as an independent piece—this very work.

The waltz depicts a scene in the play in which a mother, lured by a vision of Death, rises from her sickbed and dances.

The sorrow and dreamlike quality of one facing death, along with a touch of madness, are portrayed through Sibelius’s distinctive techniques.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

HATSUMI

Report a problem

FinlandiaSibelius

Symphonic Poem “Finlandia” Composer: Sibelius

At the time this piece was composed, Finland was suffering under Russian oppression, and an independence movement had begun.

Sibelius wrote this piece to inspire patriotic feelings for Finland, and its original title was “Finland Awakens.”

The Tempest, Suite No. 1

Sibelius: “The Tempest” Suite No. 1, Op. 109, No. 2 (with Score)

The Tempest suites are works composed in 1925 on a commission from the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.

They were written as incidental music for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and this became Sibelius’s final stage music.

It can be regarded as a culmination of the stage music Sibelius composed just before turning sixty.

Andantino in A minorLeslie Howard

Leslie Howard | Sibelius Piano Sonata Op. 12 | Mvt. 2

This is an early piano sonata by Sibelius, composed in 1891.

To fully draw out the resonance of the piano, it weaves melodies of remarkable beauty.

Throughout, you can hear distinctly Sibelius-like phrases and harmonies.

Focusing on those aspects may make for an enjoyable way to listen.

String Quartet in E-flat majorShiberiusu

Sibelius: String Quartet in E-flat major – Sibelius Academy Quartet (1988)

This is an early work by Finland’s celebrated composer Jean Sibelius.

Composed during his student years, it shows him exploring his own musical identity while reflecting the influence of Romanticism.

Its structure—featuring a light, nimble melody and a sentimental Andante—can be seen as a precursor to later, more mature works such as ‘Liebeslied’ (Voice of Love).

It is included in the 1996 Finlandia Records release ‘Sibelius: Complete String Quartets,’ performed by the Sibelius Academy String Quartet.

Drawing inspiration from Finland’s nature and folk traditions, this piece is recommended not only for classical music enthusiasts but also for anyone interested in the roots of Sibelius’s musical language.