About this episode
Kate Molleson explores the development of Jean Sibelius’s symphonies in the context of Finland’s political climate and Sibelius’s personal life.
This week, Kate Molleson traces the development of Jean Sibelius’s symphonies. Set against Finland’s changing political climate and Sibelius’s own, turbulent personal circumstances, the podcast explores what shaped each symphony’s character – from the nationalism surrounding Nos. 1 and 2, to the renewed sense of form in the Third, the more inward Fourth, and the reworked Fifth. The week concludes with the distinctive Sixth and the single‑movement Seventh, composed during a period of uncertainty both for Finland and Sibelius himself. Music featured includes: Symphony No 2 in D, Op 43 Song of my Heart, Op 18 No 6 Symphony No 1 in E minor, Op 39 The Diamond on the March Snow, Op 36 No 6 Sunrise, Op 37 No 1 Kyllikki, Op 41 No 3 Symphony No 3 in C, Op 52 The Captive Queen, Op 48 Erloschen String Quartet in D minor, Op 56 ‘Voces Intimae’ Des Abends, Op 58 No 5 Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 Spring’s Spell, Op 61 No 8 Romance, Op 78 No 2 The Oceanides, Op 73 The Echo Nymph, Op 72 No 4 Symphony No 5 in E flat, Op 82 Jokamies, Op 83 Autrefois, Op 96b Symphony No 6 in D minor, Op 104 Danses Champêtres, Op 106 No 1 Symphony No 7 in C, Op 105 Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Luke…
People in this episode
Hosts: Kate Molleson, Luke Whitlock
Topics covered
- Jean Sibelius
- symphonies
- Finnish nationalism
- music history
Keywords
- music
- symphony
- Finland
- political climate
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Symphony No 2, Symphony No 1, The Diamond on the March Snow, The Captive Queen, Voces Intimae’ Des Abends, Spring’s Spell, The Oceanides, The Echo Nymph, Symphony No 5, Danses Champêtres
Places: Finland
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